On July 14, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, welcomed Peter Pellegrini, the President of Slovakia, to Shusha with an official reception ceremony before holding both one-on-one and expanded meetings focused on bilateral cooperation, economic ties, and Slovakia's role in the reconstruction of Karabakh.

During the talks, Aliyev welcomed the large Slovak delegation, stating that its composition reflected the broad scope of bilateral cooperation and the intention of both sides to further strengthen relations. Recalling his official visit to Slovakia in 2025, he emphasized that political dialogue between the two countries had become increasingly active and expressed confidence that Pellegrini's visit would provide an additional boost to the partnership. Aliyev also highlighted Slovakia's participation in reconstruction projects in Karabakh, particularly the Smart Village project being implemented by a Slovak company, describing the region's reconstruction as one of Azerbaijan's top government priorities.

Pellegrini thanked Aliyev for the invitation and recalled the Azerbaijani president's visit to Bratislava, describing it as a historic milestone in bilateral relations. He stated that holding the meetings in Shusha offered an opportunity to witness firsthand the transformation of Karabakh since its liberation. Pellegrini said he was impressed by the pace of reconstruction and expressed pride that Slovakia was among the few foreign countries directly contributing to these projects. He added that Slovak specialists hoped to remain involved in future reconstruction initiatives.

Following the meetings, the two presidents exchanged gifts and later delivered press statements. Aliyev stated that political relations between Azerbaijan and Slovakia had reached a very high level, underpinned by regular high-level contacts and the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership signed in 2024. He emphasized that implementation of the declaration had already produced practical results, noting that cooperation had expanded beyond political dialogue into concrete joint projects. Aliyev thanked Slovakia for its active contribution to the reconstruction of Karabakh, announcing that both presidents would visit the Smart Village project in Bash Garvand village of the Aghdam district. He also identified trade, economic cooperation, energy, and military-technical collaboration as key areas discussed during the talks. According to Aliyev, the large delegations reflected the growing scope of bilateral engagement, while the continuation of discussions in Baku would further advance cooperation.

Highlighting the longstanding relationship between the two countries, Aliyev noted that Pellegrini had previously visited Azerbaijan as Speaker of Parliament, Prime Minister, and participant in the international climate conference before returning as President. He stated that the partnership was "built on concrete actions rather than words" and expressed confidence that bilateral relations would continue to deepen.

Pellegrini stated that hosting the official visit in Shusha allowed the Slovak delegation to witness "the remarkable progress" achieved in Karabakh since its liberation. He praised the reconstruction efforts and expressed satisfaction that Slovak companies were actively participating in rebuilding the region, adding that they hoped to contribute to future projects as well. Pellegrini emphasized that the strategic partnership between Slovakia and Azerbaijan represented far more than a formal political declaration, describing the two countries as "truly friendly nations" whose cooperation was reflected in practical initiatives. He noted that ministers and central bank governors accompanying the delegation would continue discussions with their Azerbaijani counterparts on expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.

The Slovak president described Azerbaijan as an important regional actor, "a guarantor of stability and development," and a key logistics hub connecting East and West. He also thanked Azerbaijan for responding during Europe's energy crisis by offering natural gas supplies after the disruption of transit through Ukraine. Pellegrini stated that both sides would continue working toward a stable long-term energy arrangement beginning in 2027. Pellegrini also welcomed the naming of a school in Karabakh after Slovak statesman and General Milan Rastislav Štefánik, saying it would symbolize Slovakia's lasting contribution to the region. He noted that direct flights between the two countries would begin in October, describing the new connection as an important step toward expanding tourism, education, business, and people-to-people contacts.

Referring to the Azerbaijan-Slovakia Business Forum scheduled in Baku, Pellegrini emphasized that bilateral relations should extend beyond traditional trade toward joint production, technology transfer, and mutually beneficial investment projects. He stressed that cooperation should be based on shared development rather than a simple buyer-seller relationship.

Addressing international affairs, Pellegrini praised Azerbaijan's efforts to support diplomatic solutions to conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the situation in the Middle East. He emphasized that Slovakia believes political negotiations should accompany efforts to strengthen defense capabilities in order to restore peace and stability. Pellegrini also confirmed that Slovakia would continue serving as NATO's Contact Point Embassy in Azerbaijan in 2027 and 2028 and highlighted ongoing defense cooperation, including plans to present joint projects at the defense exhibition scheduled to take place in Baku in September.