Ambassador Dulat Bakishev, had a meeting with H.E. Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan on 9 March 2010 to discuss issues relating to the CICA process. Ambassador Bakishev thanked the Minister for the consistent support extended by Azerbaijan to the CICA process as well as to the CICA Secretariat. Azerbaijan was associated with the CICA process right from the time proposal was initiated by President Nursultan Nazarbayev in 1992. Azerbaijan was among the first countries to make voluntary contribution to the budget of the Secretariat and to send a diplomat on secondment to the Secretariat.

The Honourble Minister reiterated Azerbaijan’s continued support to the CICA process. He expressed deep appreciation for the role played by President Nazarbayev in initiating the CICA process and leading it until now. He also expressed support for the incoming Turkish Chairmanship of CICA and hoped that Turkish Chairmanship will bring new dynamism to the CICA process. The Minister also expressed the hope that in the future CICA will be even more visible and vocal on international issues.