President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment of the Slovak Republic, Tomas Taraba, on May 19.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the head of state recalled his visit to Slovakia last year and Prime Minister Robert Fico's visit to Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev noted that the recent frequent visits of high-level Slovak delegations to Azerbaijan demonstrate active cooperation between the two nations. The President highly valued the existing friendship and partnership between Azerbaijan and Slovakia, expressing satisfaction with the current level of bilateral engagement.
Expressing gratitude for the hospitality, Tomas Taraba stated that Slovakia always stands by Azerbaijan. He emphasized that his country has consistently supported the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. The Slovak Deputy Prime Minister further highlighted Azerbaijan's role as a reliable energy partner, noting that Azerbaijan proved to be a dependable supplier when Slovakia required natural gas. Taraba also touched upon the significance of Azerbaijan hosting the 13th session of the World Urban Forum.
President Ilham Aliyev thanked the guest for the kind words and noted that Azerbaijan currently supplies gas to 12 European countries, including 10 member states of the European Union. He emphasized the potential for this number to increase in the future. During the meeting, the sides underlined the strategic partnership nature of bilateral relations and exchanged views on future cooperation prospects.
The strengthening of ties between Baku and Bratislava follows the signing of a joint declaration on strategic partnership earlier this year. As Azerbaijan continues to expand its role as a pivotal energy hub for Europe, Slovakia has emerged as a key partner in the "Solidarity Ring" initiative, aimed at upgrading gas transmission networks to bring more Azerbaijani gas to Central and Eastern Europe. This diplomatic engagement also aligns with Azerbaijan's growing international profile as it prepares to host major global events, reinforcing its position as a bridge between regional energy resources and European markets.
