Baku: Organized by Azerbaijan's Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center), an event on the theme "New Geopolitical Realities in the South Caucasus: Azerbaijan and the Peace Agenda," was held in Baku. The event was organized as part of the final stage of the Center's article competition.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, during the event, which was moderated by Sultan Zahidov, AIR Center's Leading Advisor, Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Center for the Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center), highlighted the importance of the article competitions. Shafiyev stated that a new geopolitical reality is taking shape in the South Caucasus, with Azerbaijan playing a leadership role in this process. He emphasized that Azerbaijan is the chief architect of this emerging regional reality.
Shafiyev also mentioned that Azerbaijan's expectations regarding the normalization process and the peace agenda with Armenia remain unchanged. The Azerbaijani leadership's vision on this issue is clear, with a focus on sustainable and irreversible peace. He noted that while the ruling party in Armenia is generally supportive of the peace agenda, the future of Armenia's foreign policy could be influenced by changing political forces.
Matin Mammadli, Head of the AIR Center Department, emphasized the importance of scientific and analytical thinking in shaping a state's foreign policy. He noted the rapid changes in the regional security architecture and the emergence of new geopolitical realities.
Azerbaijani MP Rizvan Nabiyev highlighted Azerbaijan's role in establishing the peace platform in the region, initiated by President Ilham Aliyev and later reflected in the political agenda of the Pashinyan government.
The event also included the awarding of winners in the article competition. Narmin Ismayilova's research on "The Washington Declaration of Peace as an Important Stage on the Path to Regional Peace and Cooperation" won first place. Nazrin Gasimova's research on "Political, Economic and Social Consequences of the 2020 Patriotic War and 2023 Anti-Terror Measures for the South Caucasus" took second place, and Aysel Samedova's research on "Connectivity as a Peace Strategy: The Zangezur Corridor and the Transformation of Regional Geopolitics in the South Caucasus" was awarded third place.
The primary objective of the AIR Center's article competitions is to enhance the scientific training of young researchers on topics relevant to the country's strategic agenda and to facilitate an interactive exchange of ideas between academic circles, public, and media representatives.