A delegation led by Elmin Mammadov, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport, met in Bern with Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and Nicolas Rallo, Regional Director of ICAO’s European and North Atlantic (EUR/NAT) Office, APA-Economics reports.
Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar expressed his appreciation for the work carried out by Azerbaijan in the region as an active member state of ICAO. He noted that our country has successfully implemented a number of important projects and that ICAO has always supported Azerbaijan and will continue to support it in the future. The Secretary General also noted the importance of bringing Azerbaijan’s civil aviation development to a new stage, drawing attention to the need to develop a Master Plan for Civil Aviation Development for this purpose. He stressed that such plans are already being used effectively by leading countries in the aviation sector, serving as an important tool for systematic planning and coordination of growth targets.
Deputy Minister Elmin Mammadov emphasized the importance of such a systematic approach for the further development of Azerbaijan’s aviation sector. He stated that the government, civil aviation authority and aviation industry would work together to develop and effectively implement such a plan in close cooperation under the guidance of ICAO.
In addition, the Azerbaijani delegation was briefed on ICAO's Strategic Plan for 2026–2050 and its transformation goals. It was noted that ICAO has already begun to implement these goals, identified key areas for development, and taken concrete steps to meet the expectations of Member States. It was emphasized that, whereas ICAO's role had previously been limited to that of an intergovernmental organization setting international aviation standards, it had now transformed itself into an organization which, while retaining these core functions, actively promotes the proper assessment and fulfilment of the needs of Member States.
During the meeting, the Azerbaijani delegation conveyed to the ICAO Secretary General an official invitation from Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev. It was emphasized that such a visit would serve to continue high-level cooperation between ICAO and Azerbaijan, as well as provide an opportunity to inform this specialized international organization about aviation projects being implemented in Azerbaijan.
The parties also discussed the possibilities of holding an international ICAO event in Azerbaijan in 2026 or 2027. Attention was also focused on joint projects between ICAO and the State Civil Aviation Agency under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, including expanding cooperation in the training of aviation specialists and in educational programs. The importance of personnel development in the areas of flight safety, aviation security and environmental protection was also emphasized, including the aligning of Azerbaijani specialists to ICAO requirements. The Azerbaijani delegation also informed the Secretary General about the current status of the Alat Green Airport project being implemented in Alat, noting that the project includes an innovative approach to sustainable airport development and compliance with international environmental standards. It was noted that this project envisions cooperation with ICAO in terms of both national and global sustainability goals.
The meeting paid special attention to the investigation of the accident that occurred on 25 December 2024 involving an Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines. The Azerbaijani side expressed its gratitude to ICAO for its continued support for the investigation conducted by Kazakhstan. One of the issues particularly emphasized by the Azerbaijani side was the importance of conducting forensic medical examinations by a specialized and experienced expert body in the relevant field. ICAO noted that thoroughness and impartiality of the investigation are among the basic requirements of Annex 13 to the Chicago Convention. The organization has reaffirmed its continued support for member states in complying with global flight safety standards.
As a result, the parties agreed to enhance cooperation in various areas between ICAO, the State Civil Aviation Agency, and Azerbaijan’s aviation industry. The Azerbaijani side reaffirmed its support for ICAO’s policies on implementing global standards in flight safety, aviation security, and environmental protection.
