On Sunday, August 4, Vinta Somé, Burkina Faso’s newly appointed ambassador to Baku, presented his credentials to President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, as reported by the Azerbaijani presidency.
Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, holds significant geopolitical importance.
During the meeting with Ambassador Somé, President Aliyev welcomed the recent advancements in the bilateral relationship between Azerbaijan and Burkina Faso, highlighting the substantial opportunities for expanding cooperation in all areas.
The Azerbaijani leader encouraged both nations to identify potential areas for collaboration in economic and commercial sectors, particularly regarding the possibility of Azerbaijani investments in Burkina Faso.
Ambassador Somé conveyed Burkina Faso’s aspiration to establish “comprehensive strategic cooperation” with Azerbaijan. He announced that a significant Azerbaijani delegation would be visiting Burkina Faso in the near future.
The ambassador identified several promising areas for collaboration, including energy, agriculture, training, education, and counter-terrorism, among others.
On the international stage, President Aliyev underscored the importance of mutual support within the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement, particularly regarding opposition to France’s neo-colonial policies, which he described as “disgusting.”
“Azerbaijan has denounced this policy and advocated for the independence and freedom of peoples subjected to colonial oppression by France, a country with a history of violent colonialism,” Aliyev stated.
The Burkinabe delegation praised Azerbaijan’s “successful presidency” of the Non-Aligned Movement, emphasizing the ongoing developments in Africa’s coastal region and noting the recent resurgence of the Pan-African movement on the continent.
DS/ac/lb/abj/APA