BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 16. The 4th Shusha
Global Media Forum has become an important platform for open
dialogue with international media, exchange of views on global
challenges, and discussions on the future of journalism, Assistant
to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy
Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet
Hajiyev said.
Speaking in an interview with Pakistan’s PakTVGlobal television
channel on the sidelines of the forum, Hajiyev said the initiative
to hold the Shusha Global Media Forum was put forward by President
Ilham Aliyev four years ago with the aim of restoring Shusha’s
historical role as a center of intellectual and cultural
dialogue.
“The initiative to hold the Shusha Global Media Forum was put
forward by President Ilham Aliyev four years ago. The goal was to
restore Shusha’s former cultural and intellectual role in the South
Caucasus and beyond the region. In Shusha, scholars, academics,
journalists, philosophers, and poets come together to work on
various intellectual ideas and restore the city’s former spirit,”
Hajiyev said.
He noted that another important objective of the forum is to
present Azerbaijan’s position to the international audience and
address challenges related to information campaigns and media
attacks.
According to Hajiyev, Azerbaijan, like brotherly Pakistan, faces
media pressure on the global stage, making it important to ensure
direct communication with international media.
“One of the functions of the Shusha Forum is to counter these
attacks and convey the truth. This came after Azerbaijan liberated
its occupied territories. We speak openly with the world. This is
President Ilham Aliyev’s direct communication with the
international media,” Hajiyev said.
He emphasized that the format of the forum allows journalists
from different countries to freely ask questions and receive direct
answers from the Azerbaijani leader.
“There is no limit on the number of questions here. Any
journalist may ask any question they consider appropriate. At this
year’s forum as well, the President of Azerbaijan answered
questions from all parts of the world,” he added.
The presidential aide stressed that President Ilham Aliyev’s
participation in the forum reflects Azerbaijan’s approach to
transparent communication and open dialogue. “There were no
restrictions or censorship there. Everyone was free to ask any
question they wished. This was Azerbaijan’s strategic
communication, and I am proud to be an assistant to Mr. President.
Every day, we learn something from his wisdom. President’s approach
to the media is one example of this. The head of state demonstrates
the same spirit in the economy, foreign policy, social affairs, and
military sphere,” Hajiyev said.
He added that President Ilham Aliyev’s interaction with
journalists went beyond traditional communication. “The President
of Azerbaijan’s responses to questions at the latest forum were not
merely communication; they were a genuine dialogue with the
international media,” Hajiyev noted.
Hajiyev also highlighted the intellectual dimension of the
Shusha Global Media Forum, saying that the media environment is
undergoing rapid transformation due to artificial intelligence,
social networks and other technological developments. “The Shusha
Forum is also an intellectual dialogue. The media is changing
dynamically. Artificial intelligence, social networks, and the
entire media ecosystem are evolving. We all face disinformation.
Therefore, we must learn from one another and share our
experiences. We should put forward proposals. This is also one of
the objectives of the Shusha Forum,” he said.
Touching upon Azerbaijan-Pakistan relations, Hajiyev described
bilateral ties as strategic and based on friendship and mutual
respect. “Pakistan and Azerbaijan share brotherly relations, and we
have a strategic partnership. I have also had the honor of
witnessing the friendship and deep mutual respect between Prime
Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and President
Ilham Aliyev,” Hajiyev said.
He noted that Pakistan’s support for Azerbaijan during the years
of occupation remains deeply appreciated by the Azerbaijani people
and state. “When Azerbaijan’s territories were under occupation,
brotherly Pakistan demonstrated its support for Azerbaijan.
Pakistan did not establish diplomatic relations with the occupying
country and recognized Armenia as the aggressor state. This has
remained in the memory not only of the Azerbaijani state but also
of its people, and we will always remember and highly appreciate
it,” he said.
The presidential aide also praised Pakistan’s role in addressing
regional and global challenges, noting Islamabad’s mediation
efforts during the recent US-Iran conflict in the Gulf region.
According to Hajiyev, Pakistan demonstrated strategic patience
and diplomatic capability by creating a platform for dialogue and
helping bring the confrontation to an end. “Pakistan demonstrated
the qualities of a strong state and strategic foresight. Pakistan’s
important geostrategic significance in global affairs became
evident. As your brothers, we are very pleased about this,” he
said.
At the same time, Hajiyev stressed that Azerbaijan and Pakistan
should continue working to expand economic, trade, humanitarian and
cultural cooperation. “The leadership of our countries is working
intensively to establish institutionalized cooperation between
Azerbaijan and Pakistan. But, of course, we need to do much more in
the fields of economic and trade cooperation, humanitarian and
cultural relations, and people-to-people contacts,” Hajiyev
said.
He noted that both countries have significant economic potential
and opportunities, while closer interaction between business
communities remains important. Hajiyev cited Pakistani rice exports
to Azerbaijan as an example, noting that after relevant measures
were taken, including customs duty exemptions, the competitiveness
of Pakistani products in the Azerbaijani market increased.
He also highlighted the development of tourism ties, noting the
increase in the number of direct flights between Azerbaijan and
Pakistan. The presidential aide stressed the importance of
expanding media cooperation between the two countries, saying that
journalists can play an important role in informing societies about
each other’s culture and business opportunities.
