Azerbaijan participated in the workshop organized by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean
On February 11, 2026, a high-level workshop, co-organized by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, its Centre for Global Studies (PAM-CGS) and the NATO Defense College Foundation (NDCF) “Regions at the Centre – Cooperative Security: Cooperation versus Fragmentation”, took place.
The workshop brought together more than 80 distinguished participants, coming from Europe, Africa, Asia and North America, among them international experts and practitioners, as well as representatives of the diplomatic community.
Welcome remarks were delivered by H.E Amb. Alessandro Minuto-Rizzo, President of the NDCF and Amb. Prof. Abdulsalam AlMadani, Chair of PAM-CGS.
Moreover, H.E. Guido Crosetto, Italian Minister of Defense, addressed the audience through a written statement.
H.E. Guido Crosetto highlighted that peace is not a permanent state, but a balance we must build and defend each day. He underlined that security is not in contrast with health or education, but the very condition that enables them.
Minister Crosetto further stressed the importance of a strong, cohesive NATO, greater European defense integration, and deeper cooperation with strategic partners across Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, and beyond. In this view, he emphasized that investing in technology, innovation, and shared industrial capabilities is vital for Europe to remain resilient and sovereign in a rapidly changing world.
In his address, Ambassador Minuto-Rizzo underscored the importance of regions as central actors in the international community and highlighted cooperative security as an indispensable and flexible framework grounded in dialogue and practical collaboration. He emphasized the high risks of international fragmentation and the need for active engagement, mutual understanding, and sustained cooperation.
Ambassador AlMadani emphasized the importance of trust and credibility in building strong partnerships. He underlined that PAM’s Centre for Global Studies has focused on trust and cooperation versus fragmentation within the international community and have been at the disposal of Member Parliaments and non-members for rigorous research and collaboration on various topics, primarily trust in the media. Ambassador called for continued cooperation with the NATO Defense College Foundation, as crucial in advancing important issues of concern to the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf Regions.
Speaking at the first panel, the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Italian Republic Rashad Aslanov said that although our country is not a Mediterranean country, it plays a major role in ensuring energy security of this region. Emphasizing that inter-parliamentary cooperation is important, Ambassador spoke about the peace process and Azerbaijan's role in promoting sustainable peace and cooperation in the region.
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