The first consular consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom were held in London.

Axar.az reports that the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs released the information.

The Azerbaijani delegation was led by Emil Safarov, Head of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the UK delegation was headed by Sarah Taylor, Director of the Consular and Crisis Management Department of the FCDO, and Mark Clayton, Deputy Head of the Central Asia and Eastern Neighbourhood Department.

Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Elin Suleymanov, as well as officials from the foreign ministries of both countries, Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Science and Education, and representatives from the UK Home Office dealing with migration, visa, and legal assistance matters also attended the consultations.

During the meeting, the sides discussed the current state and future prospects of bilateral cooperation in the consular field, including the signing of relevant documents and opportunities for digitalization of consular services.

Discussions also covered the protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens of both countries, visa issues, and crisis management.

The importance of sharing experiences on recent innovations in consular affairs and strengthening cooperation in the areas of migration, education, justice, extradition, and legal assistance in civil and criminal matters was emphasized.

It was agreed to hold the next round of consular consultations in Baku.