EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Marijana Kujundžić said Azerbaijan’s history offers numerous examples of strong and influential women, noting that these stories continue to inspire younger generations.
Speaking at the event “EU and Youth: For a Sustainable Future,” the ambassador said she first became interested in Azerbaijan two decades ago after reading a book on the commercial development of the country’s oil fields.
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“Azerbaijan drew my interest many years ago, but I only arrived here for the first time on September 2 this year,” she said. “It’s fascinating how life works – sometimes books and education lead us to places we never planned to go.”
Kujundžić added that it was her diplomatic career that ultimately brought her to Baku.
“Azerbaijan has many examples of strong women”
The ambassador emphasized the country’s tradition of prominent female figures and said their legacy remains important for the new generation.
“There are many examples of strong women in Azerbaijan’s history. You see such examples in Europe and around the world as well. Success always requires effort, and I want to support your efforts,” she told participants.
EU ‘very pleased’ with positive momentum in peace process
Kujundžić also welcomed the recent positive dynamic in Armenia–Azerbaijan relations, noting that developments in August marked an important step forward.
Referencing the August 8 meeting in Washington – where the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, together with the U.S. President, initialed a peace agreement – she said the EU remains committed to supporting ongoing diplomatic efforts.
“We are very pleased with the positive developments in August and those happening now, because this is the future. The past is behind us; the future is the future,” she stressed.
She underscored the crucial role of youth in shaping that future, noting that education is central to building a resilient and sustainable society.
EU aims to deepen cooperation and people-to-people ties
Kujundžić said the EU continues to expand educational and cultural initiatives in Azerbaijan, describing them as a way to strengthen cooperation and build “bridges” between societies.
“We work to reinforce ties between the EU and Azerbaijan and to build bridges between people. I want to extend special thanks to the Young European Ambassadors (YEAs), who play an important bridging role here. They are doing significant work in Azerbaijan,” she said.
The ambassador also highlighted the importance of women’s participation in diplomacy.
“As a woman ambassador, I value inclusiveness and diversity. When women take part in diplomatic processes, we achieve better results.”
