The Special Envoy of Azerbaijan, Ambassador Elchin Amirbayov, paid a noteworthy state visit to President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone to strengthen the long-standing bilateral relations between the two countries.
During the meeting at the Presidential Palace, Ambassador Amirbayov thanked President Bio for the chance to meet and gave President Ilham Heydar Oghlu Aliyev of Azerbaijan his best wishes. Azerbaijan has been in a relationship with Sierra Leone for over 29 years; during the meeting, Ambassador Amirbayov emphasised Azerbaijan’s commitment to strengthening this relationship, with an emphasis on the upcoming 30th anniversary in 2024.
He mentioned that President Aliyev would like to meet with President Bio during the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference, which Azerbaijan will be hosting. The Ambassador also offered President Bio his condolences on the recent passing of his older sister. President Bio expressed Sierra Leone’s desire to deepen its relationship with Azerbaijan while extending a cordial welcome to the Special Envoy.
He emphasised the value of two-way relationships and pledged to work with others on several fronts, such as food security, agriculture, and education. In addition to stressing the importance of education as a basis for advancement, President Bio described the initiatives his administration is taking to support the development of human capital and tackle important issues like joblessness and economic expansion. In addition, President Bio emphasised the need to find peaceful solutions to disputes by bringing up Sierra Leone’s civil war and stressing the value of taking lessons from the past.
He stated that he was willing to assist the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and promised to present beneficial proposals to the UN Security Council to promote long-term peace in the area. The talks between President Bio and Ambassador Amirbayov emphasised both sides’ shared commitment to promoting communication and understanding between Sierra Leone and Azerbaijan.
