Baku: “We are connecting different regions with specific projects,” stated Hikmet Hajiyev, the Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration, during the panel themed Geopolitical Shifts: Responsible Partnerships versus Rivalry at the XII Global Baku Forum.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the President’s assistant emphasized Azerbaijan’s efforts to unite like-minded countries, highlighting the resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict as a model for conflict resolution. Hajiyev pointed out that some Armenian counterparts acknowledge that Azerbaijan has played a role in defining Armenia’s independence, as the policy of occupation posed a threat to it. With ongoing developments in the Middle East, Azerbaijan, being geographically close, is focusing on strengthening relations with Central Asia as a foreign policy priority. Additionally, Turkey and the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) represent a new reality in the region, and Azerbaijan possesses the resources to engage with these dynamics.

Hajiyev also underscored the strong relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan, suggesting they serve as an example of successful neighborhood relations that Armenia could emulate. He mentioned that the Caspian Sea acts as a uniting force rather than a divisive one, with a vast market and two major economic powers located at its poles. Azerbaijan’s multilateral policy extends beyond these regional partnerships, aiming to connect multiple seas through its energy projects. These initiatives have already reached the Adriatic Sea, creating new partnerships and realities despite the geographical distance from the Balkans.