The South Caucasus has moved beyond being a conflict zone and is now in the spotlight of the world as a region of peace and tranquility. Undoubtedly, against the backdrop of the new realities created by our country and the Azerbaijani leader, the region has changed its image of conflict and entered a stage of rapid development. The selection of this region as a destination for international events is a continuation of this development. The gathering of European leaders in the South Caucasus is a clear example of this. As Antonio Costa stated, the holding of the 8th Summit of the “European Political Community” in Armenia was made possible thanks to the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The long-standing conflict in the region is now behind us, and the rise and development have changed the region’s image. Undoubtedly, all these are the historic services of President Ilham Aliyev.
These thoughts were expressed by Rashad Mahmudov, a member of the Board of the New Azerbaijan Party and a deputy of the Milli Majlis.
He noted that due to the ineffective and double-standard approach of international institutions that had committed to the peaceful resolution of the existing conflict in the region, the situation remained unresolved for a long time, which eventually led to military tension. By liberating its sovereign territories from occupation, Azerbaijan took an important step towards restoring a fair reality and ensuring peace in the region. Speaking via video link at the 8th Summit of the “European Political Community,” the head of state clearly expressed his position on past processes and current realities, once again clarifying important issues.
In his speech, the head of our country noted that during President Costa’s visit to Azerbaijan less than two months ago, the issue of participation in the Summit was discussed, and it was agreed to join the event via video link. The President also emphasized his positive attitude towards the initiative to hold the Summit in Armenia in May 2026, assessing it as an important indicator showing that peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia has entered a real stage. Furthermore, referring to the Joint Declaration signed by the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington last August, President Ilham Aliyev stated that as a result of achieving peace, Azerbaijan has unilaterally lifted all transit restrictions imposed on Armenia since the early 1990s. So far, about 28,000 tons of Armenian cargo have been transported through Azerbaijani territory. At the same time, Azerbaijan has taken additional steps. For the first time, it has started exporting its oil products to Armenia. Thus, the foundation of trade relations between the two countries has been laid. Another important achievement in the field of peace is related to transport links, as the “Trump International Peace and Prosperity Route” will allow for the connection with Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave and will also become a part of the Middle Corridor. As a result of this process, both Armenia and Azerbaijan have already begun to feel the real results of peace.
Against this background, the head of our state noted that instead of supporting the peace process, the European Parliament displays a biased position towards it. From May 2021 to April 30, 2026, 14 resolutions regarding Azerbaijan have been adopted, and they are characterized by insults and lies. The latest resolution was adopted on the eve of the Summit. Unfortunately, instead of solving global problems, the European Parliament targets Azerbaijan. The main reason for this is that our country has restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty. In response, the President noted that the Parliament of Azerbaijan has decided to suspend cooperation with the European Parliament and limit participation in a number of related structures, and this step is aimed at protecting the sovereign interests of our country.
In conclusion, the deputy stated that the consideration of our country’s opinion during the summit in Yerevan and the decision to hold the 2028 Summit of the “European Political Community” in Azerbaijan went down in history as an indicator of the favorable attitude shown towards the Azerbaijani leader and our country as a whole. This, in addition to being another confirmation of our country’s growing international prestige, shows that Azerbaijan is at the center of global processes.