Jeffrey Sachs: South Caucasus can become key connector in a multipolar world
Jeffrey D. Sachs, an economist, public policy analyst, Columbia University professor, and UN advisor, said Azerbaijan and the wider South Caucasus ...
On July 12, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held a high-level meeting with the Transitional President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, during the latter's working visit to Baku, signaling a potential new chapter in bilateral relations.
According to AZERTAC, President Ilham Aliyev welcomed the Transitional President of Syria. The two presidents then posed for an official photograph.
President Ilham Aliyev expressed hope that President Ahmad Al-Sharaa's visit to Azerbaijan would significantly contribute to the development of bilateral relations. He noted that during the previous Syrian government, which pursued an unfriendly policy toward Azerbaijan, relations between the two countries were stagnant. However, the formation of a new government in Syria has opened up promising opportunities for cooperation.
President Aliyev recalled the visit of an Azerbaijani delegation, led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Deputy Prime Minister, to Syria, and emphasized that during that visit, projects related to cooperation in various fields were discussed.
Transitional President Ahmad Al-Sharaa recalled with satisfaction his meeting with President Aliyev during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. He expressed gratitude to President Aliyev for Azerbaijan's brotherly support to Syria.
Al-Sharaa regretted that the former Syrian leadership had damaged relations with many countries, including Azerbaijan. He stated that Syria is interested in cooperation with Azerbaijan in political, economic, trade, cultural, humanitarian, and other fields.
Congratulating Azerbaijan on its achievements and the liberation of its territories, Al-Sharaa noted that Azerbaijan faced great difficulties in the 1990s, but overcame them and is now developing.
The meeting emphasized the importance of energy cooperation between the two countries and noted that Syria is currently facing serious energy problems. It was stressed that a project to export Azerbaijani gas to Syria through Türkiye would be implemented soon and would contribute to Syria’s energy security. It was highlighted that Azerbaijan is capable of contributing to the restoration of Syria’s energy sector.
Al-Sharaa underlined the significance of Azerbaijan’s support in addressing Syria’s serious energy challenges and said it would contribute to Syria’s development.
The discussion also touched on humanitarian, educational, and cultural cooperation between Azerbaijan and Syria. The sides exchanged views on providing scholarships to Syrian students in Azerbaijan and the restoration of cultural monuments.
Taking into account Azerbaijan’s experience in reconstruction and development in the liberated territories, it was emphasized that Azerbaijan could contribute to Syria’s post-conflict recovery and rebuilding process.
The two leaders also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.
Later, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held a one-on-one meeting with the Transitional President of the Syrian Arab Republic Ahmad Al-Sharaa.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Washington shows seriousness. His remarks came as talks on Iran’s nuclear programme continued, with Trump and Xi also opposing Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could destroy Iran’s infrastructure “in two days,” while Tehran warned the U.S. would face growing economic costs from the conflict. The remarks came as Hezbollah reported new attacks on Israeli forces despite an extended Lebanon ceasefire.
The second semi-final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest 2026 takes place tonight in a rain-soaked Vienna, with the final 10 places in Saturday’s grand final still up for grabs.
Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war as well as the bodies of fallen soldiers, on Friday (15 May). The swap came as Ukranian officials said Moscow had carried out its largest aerial attack over 48 hours since the conflict started.
A high-powered lawyer representing Elon Musk attacked the personal and professional credibility of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Thursday, as a landmark federal trial in California nears its conclusion.
China has launched the world’s first experiment to study how artificial human embryos develop in space, marking a major step in understanding whether humans could one day reproduce beyond Earth.
Every day, an elderly woman in China’s Shandong province looks forward to a video call from her son. He asks about her health, tells her he has been busy with work, and promises he will come home once he has saved enough money. She tells him she misses him. He tells her to take care of herself.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of central London on Saturday (16 May) as two large-scale protests unfolded simultaneously - one focused on immigration and national identity, the other held in support of Palestinians and to mark Nakba Day.
At least eight people have died and 32 others were injured after a freight train collided with a public bus at a railway crossing in Bangkok on Saturday (16 May), triggering a fire that quickly spread through the vehicle.
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping sought to project stability and renewed dialogue during a closely watched summit in Beijing this week, even as major disagreements over Taiwan, trade and global security remained unresolved.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment