BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 15. President of the
Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev addressed the participants of
the international conference themed “Regional Contribution to
Global Security: Peacebuilding in the South Caucasus.”


Trend presents
the address:


''Dear Conference participants!


I warmly welcome you to the international conference on
“Regional Contribution to Global Security: Peacebuilding in the
South Caucasus” held in Shusha.


This prestigious international event, organized since 2022,
holds profound importance amid today’s complex geopolitical
processes. The year-on-year increase in the number of participants
at the conference, which has become an important component of
Azerbaijan’s initiative to create an environment of regional peace
and stability, inspires confidence that it will make worthy
contributions to common security and international cooperation in
the future.


After regaining its independence, Azerbaijan, which has been
subjected to occupation, international threats, and injustice, has
consistently fought to ensure its territorial integrity and the
safety of its citizens, and at the same time has remained dedicated
to establishing cooperation and friendly ties among countries
worldwide. As a result of the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020 and the
one-day anti-terrorist operation in 2023, our lands, which had been
under occupation for many years, were liberated from Armenian
occupation, and Azerbaijan fully restored its sovereignty and
territorial integrity. Thus, Azerbaijan has itself ensured the
implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions that had
remained on paper for nearly 30 years.


Our country is pursuing a resolute policy towards establishing
and maintaining a lasting environment of peace and stability in the
region. The signing of the Joint Declaration between the leaders of
Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington last year, witnessed by the
President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, and the
initialing of the peace agreement have completely reshaped the
situation in the South Caucasus. In this regard, the Zangezur
Corridor, which is being implemented, will connect both
Azerbaijan’s mainland with its Nakhchivan region, and will become
one of the key segments of the Middle Corridor.


The declaration of 2026 as the “Year of Urban Planning and
Architecture” in Azerbaijan and the hosting of the 13th Session of
the UN World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku at a high level clearly
demonstrate our country’s consistent humanitarian initiatives
during the post-conflict period. During this Forum, Azerbaijan
showcased to about 60,000 participants representing 182 countries
its advanced infrastructure, built on cutting-edge urban planning
concepts in the liberated Garabagh and East Zangezur Economic
Regions, where safe and dignified living conditions have been
established for more than 85,000 Azerbaijani citizens currently
residing there.


As an advocate for a just world order and secure global living
conditions, Azerbaijan is working to transform not only the region,
but also Eurasia as a whole, into a reliable space for cooperation.
The decisive steps taken alongside with friendly and brotherly
countries, especially within the Turkic world, are of particular
significance for international cooperation, and they transform our
family, the Turkic World, into one of the most influential
geopolitical power centers of the 21st century.


As demonstrated by this important international conference, the
preference of parties with different political interests for
constructive dialogue, responsible behavior, and joint activities
based on national interests serves to preserve a healthy atmosphere
of cooperation and solidarity between countries and within society,
further strengthens mutual trust.


I am confident that this conference, organized by the New
Azerbaijan Party on the occasion of the National Salvation Day,
which is marked by the salvation of Azerbaijan by the National
Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, and the
anniversary of the signing of the historic Shusha Declaration, will
serve as a flexible mechanism, making vital contributions to
preserving sustainable cooperation among the participating
countries.


I wish the Conference every success, and peace and prosperity to
each of the friendly countries you represent.''