President Ilham Aliyev has addressed the participants of the international conference titled "Regional Contribution to Global Security: Peacebuilding in the South Caucasus," held in the city of Shusha.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the President's address emphasized the following:
"Distinguished conference participants,
I extend my heartfelt greetings to you at this international conference in Shusha, dedicated to the theme of 'Regional Contribution to Global Security: Peacebuilding in the South Caucasus.'
Initiated in 2022, this prestigious international event holds special significance against the backdrop of complex geopolitical processes occurring in the modern era. The growing number of participants in this conference, which has become an essential component of the idea of creating an environment of regional peace and stability promoted by Azerbaijan, inspires confidence that it will make worthy contributions to general security and international cooperation in the future.
Since restoring its independence, Azerbaijan, having been subjected to occupation, international threats, and injustice, has always fought for the assurance of its territorial integrity and the safety of its citizens, while simultaneously striving to build cooperation and friendly relations among the countries of the world. Our lands, which remained under occupation for many years, were liberated from Armenian occupation as a result of the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020 and the one-day anti-terror operation conducted in 2023, fully restoring our country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. With this, the implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions, which had remained on paper for nearly 30 years, was ensured by the Azerbaijani state itself.
Our country is pursuing a resolute policy aimed at creating and maintaining an environment of lasting peace and stability in the region. The signing of a Joint Declaration between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia last year in Washington, witnessed by US President Donald Trump, and the initialing of a peace treaty, have completely changed the situation in the South Caucasus. In this regard, the Zangazur Corridor, which is currently being realized, will not only connect the main part of Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan region but will also become one of the main segments of the Middle Corridor.
The declaration of 2026 as the 'Year of Urban Planning and Architecture' in Azerbaijan and the high-level hosting of the 13th session of the UN World Urban Forum in Baku are clear examples of our country's consistent humanitarian activities in the post-conflict period. At this Forum, Azerbaijan presented to nearly 60,000 participants representing 182 countries the modern infrastructure formed on the basis of contemporary urban planning concepts in the liberated Garabagh and East Zangazur economic regions, as well as the decent living conditions created for more than 85,000 Azerbaijanis currently living there in safety.
Azerbaijan, a proponent of a just world order and safe living conditions for humanity, is working towards transforming not only the region but also Eurasia as a whole into a space of reliable cooperation. The decisive steps taken together with friendly and brotherly countries, especially the Turkic World, are of particular importance in terms of international cooperation and are turning the Turkic World, our family, into one of the influential geopolitical power centers of the 21st century.
In the example of this important international conference, the prioritization of constructive dialogue, responsible behavior, and joint action based on national interests by parties representing different political interests serves to further strengthen mutual trust for the preservation of a healthy environment of cooperation and solidarity among countries and within society.
I am confident that this conference, held by the New Azerbaijan Party on the occasion of the National Salvation Day—marking the salvation of Azerbaijan by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev—and the anniversary of the signing of the historic Shusha Declaration, will serve as an agile mechanism and make important contributions to maintaining sustainable cooperation among the participating countries.
I wish the conference success and peace and prosperity to each of the friendly countries you represent."
