News

On 10 January 2025 Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the Republic of Azerbaijan Kęstutis Vaškelevičius presented letters of credence to President of Azerbaijan H.E. Ilham Aliyev. After the ceremony, which took place at the Zagulba Presidential Residence, Ambassador and the President discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations.

Mr Vaškelevičius underlined the long-standing friendship between the peoples of Lithuania and Azerbaijan and their mutual support in the fightfor freedom in different periods of history.

"Our countries have long-standing friendly relations based on a solid foundation of aspirations for freedom. The mutual support and solidarity that was felt between all the captive nations strengthened us and helped our countries to regain independence in 1990-1991. It is in this spirit of solidarity and friendship that I would like to do my utmost to further strengthen our bilateral relations," said the Lithuanian Ambassador.

Mr Vaškelevičius noted that this year Lithuania and Azerbaijan are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. This is a good opportunity to recall that there was a Lithuanian Consulate in Baku in the interwar period. It is also an obligation for the Embassy to strengthen and develop our bilateral relations - from high-level and governmental visits, political consultations to growing cooperation in the fields of economy, renewable energy, agriculture, trade, education, health and culture.

The Ambassador stressed that the visit of Lithuanian President G.Nausėda to Baku in 2022 and the visit of  Azerbaijani President I.Aliyev to Vilnius in 2023, which were accompanied by the business forums, had opened up greater opportunities for the development of mutually beneficial economic relations, and that the Embassy of Lithuania would make efforts to make better use of these open opportunities in its work.

Mr. Vaškelevičius stressed Lithuania's interest in a peaceful, stable and prosperous South Caucasus region, noted Lithuania's support for all efforts leading to a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the progress made so far in the negotiations.

He also noted the importance for Lithuania of closer EU-Azerbaijan relations and support for Ukraine.

The Ambassador reiterated the condolences and solidarity of the Lithuanian leaders and the people of Lithuania to the President and the people of Azerbaijan following the tragic AZAL plane crash, and expressed that Azerbaijan is rightly proud of its heroes - the crew of the AZAL airline - whose heroic actions had saved tens of lives.

Mr. Vaškelevičius thanked President Aliyev for the friendly conversation and expressed the hope that relations between the two countries would develop and grow stronger.

Minister Counsellor of the Embassy Mr Viktoras Dagilis, and Counsellor of the Embassy Mrs Giedrė Verollet attended the ceremony and the conversation with H.E.President I.Aliyev

Photo from the website of the President of Azerbaijan