"We learned about such a meeting in Baku from 'The Times' newspaper; we had no prior information about it. Naturally, we treated the article in such a reputable publication with attention and conducted an investigation."
Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing APA, that President Ilham Aliyev made these remarks during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in response to a question regarding a reported meeting between German and Russian representatives in Baku.
The head of state noted that before arriving in Berlin yesterday, he requested information from the State Border Service of Azerbaijan:
"It was confirmed that the individuals mentioned in 'The Times' were in Azerbaijan at the same time. On July 12, two prominent figures—Mr. Pofalla, head of former Chancellor Merkel's administration, and Mr. Platzeck—arrived in Baku on a Berlin-Baku flight and returned on July 14. Simultaneously, on July 12, former Russian Prime Minister Mr. Zubkov and the head of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, Mr. Fadeyev, arrived in Baku from Moscow, departing on July 13 and July 14, respectively. We were not informed about this by either the German or Russian sides. In other words, our territory was simply used without our knowledge. I cannot say anything concrete about whether such a meeting took place, as we did not witness it. However, the flight statistics I mentioned provide grounds to believe that such a secret meeting was held in Baku. If this meeting leads to the end of the Russia-Ukraine war, we certainly welcome it."
President Ilham Aliyev reiterated that, in any case, the war must be stopped immediately:
"Our goal is for the war to end and for peace to be ensured in the region."
Azerbaijan has consistently positioned itself as a neutral venue for international diplomacy, often hosting high-level talks between conflicting parties. The country's strategic location and commitment to maintaining balanced relations with global powers have made it a frequent site for sensitive diplomatic engagements, reflecting Baku's growing role in international mediation efforts.
