On July 13, the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum, held in Shusha under the theme “Mission of Media in Promoting Peace: Restoration of Truth and Rebuilding of Trust,” once again demonstrated Azerbaijan’s proactive, leading, and determined position in the region, as well as its immense openness to constructive dialogue. President Ilham Aliyev’s comprehensive and detailed responses to questions from influential media outlets of various nations over nearly four hours, along with his fresh perspective on events, primarily reflect the Azerbaijani leader’s high regard for freedom of speech and thought. As the theme of the Forum suggests, the realities created by Azerbaijan in the region are playing a pivotal role in restoring truth and rebuilding trust, and these truths are being witnessed and presented to the global information audience by nearly 160 media representatives, experts, and officials from 53 countries.
The idea behind the Forum is to create an environment for media representatives from various corners of the world to discuss issues of mutual concern and interest, as well as to get acquainted with Karabakh and Shusha. In this regard, the Forum provides a unique opportunity for foreign media outlets to convey the true realities about Azerbaijan and Karabakh, the positive changes taking place, and the evolving events to the international audience by observing them on the ground. Now, media representatives visiting Karabakh see a perfect construction site, cities built with exquisite architectural styles, and people living in newly constructed apartments.
As our esteemed President noted, “This is a combination of different criteria. First, every time, every year, the theme of the Forum simply reflects current challenges. Second, the environment is very friendly, very positive, and many people from different media, I am sure, become close friends after meetings in Shusha. Of course, an important criterion for us is to gather a large group of people who influence the decision-making process, who shape public opinion in their countries and beyond, and to show the return of Karabakh to its roots, the return of the owners of these lands, and real development.”
Thus, there is no need to explain the current landscape to anyone; the global media community is at the center of events itself. These created opportunities confirm how open our country is to the media and that it ensures a democratic information environment. At the Forum, President Ilham Aliyev once again confirmed his fair and objective position by providing his unique analytical approach to regional and international security, the geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus, positive changes in the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process, the important role our country plays in trans-transport and energy corridors, the importance of strong stability against the backdrop of rising global risks, and other issues.
One of the notable factors at the Forum was the strengthening of Azerbaijan’s position in the geopolitical and geoeconomic environment in recent times. In the answers given to questions from foreign media representatives, detailed information was provided about our country becoming an initiator and author of international energy-transport corridors and holding a reliable position in the South Caucasus, Caspian, and Central Asian regions. As Mr. Ilham Aliyev stated, it is never possible to become a transit country without mutual relations with neighbors. For years, Azerbaijan has directed large-scale investments into enriching the region’s transport architecture and has carried out fundamental modernization construction. By working tirelessly for over 10 years and utilizing its geographical position and advantages, it has created a real platform for multilateral cooperation. Building broad international cooperation and creating a multilateral energy alliance across the vast geographical space of Eurasia, from East to West and North to South, has come to fruition precisely thanks to this determination and unwavering construction.
One of the exemplary formats of regional cooperation is the formation of a unified economic and political space between Central Asia and Azerbaijan. This new union provides significant benefits in terms of connections, transport, and the implementation of logistics projects, strengthening Azerbaijan’s strategic place on the Eurasian bridge, while active contacts with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and other countries increase the rhythm of global communications.
Azerbaijan, which enriches the region’s communication map, also contributes to strengthening integration into the Middle Corridor, which is the most important goal of the Karabakh Declaration signed at the informal Summit of the Organization of Turkic States held in Shusha. The geographical boundaries of the Middle Corridor family, already considered the Silk Road of the 21st century, are expanding, and transit volumes from China to Azerbaijan and in the opposite direction are increasing. The movement of trains from Azerbaijan to China and vice versa has further increased our country’s export potential and regional importance as a transit country over the past year, and our transport infrastructure has been fully integrated into the Middle Corridor.
Azerbaijan Railways, the Absheron Logistics Center, the Baku International Sea Trade Port, and the “Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company” have also joined this logistics chain. Today, the Sea Trade Port is the largest port in the Caspian with a capacity of 15 million tons, and active work is underway to increase this volume to 25 million tons. Likewise, 10 ships are being built at its own Shipyard to transport cargo to Europe and back, which makes Azerbaijan even more attractive by turning it into a central bridge during a period when transit disruptions occur. In short, these criteria unequivocally increase Azerbaijan’s importance.
Against the backdrop of the new realities created by our country, the geography and logistics map of the region are changing, and efforts have been strengthened to connect the Zangezur corridor to the Middle Corridor chain. As an important project, the Zangezur corridor will not only connect Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic but will also contribute to the expansion of economic cooperation in the South Caucasus, the acceleration of international freight transport, and the further strengthening of the region’s transit potential.
Thus, the Shusha Forum can be characterized as a high tribune for regional and international processes, a broad presentation platform, and a success of information and media diplomacy.
Ramid Namazov
Milli Məclisin deputatı