In an interview with native TV channels on January 10, 2023, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev commented on a number of points on the interior and international coverage agenda of Baku.
He gave detailed insights into the nation’s financial and political achievements in 2022, the way forward for the regional transport tasks, the vitality cooperation with Europe, the way forward for the Zangezur Hall, the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization, the peace with Armenia, the rising nationwide navy potential, the principle international coverage instructions and extra.
Caspian News compiled beneath the important thing takeaways from the president’s interview:
– Throughout the two years because the Second Karabakh Conflict of 2020, Azerbaijan achieved its targets on the worldwide relations stage and inside the nation. The world has accepted the battle’s final result.
– Azerbaijan’s GDP reached a report excessive of $80 billion; international commerce exceeded $50 billion, with a $25 billion optimistic stability, and international debt decreased to beneath $ 7 billion and in relation to the GDP.
– Azerbaijan has been implementing tasks within the area of transport with all the principle actions associated to the Center Hall and the North-South transportation hall crossing by means of Azerbaijan being accomplished. Baku is satisfied that 15 million to 30 million tons of cargo will be transported throughout Azerbaijan by means of the North-South transportation hall alone.
– There also needs to be new routes for cargo from Central Asia. The financial viability of the Zangezur Hall is past doubt. Within the trilateral assertion of November 10, 2020, it’s explicitly acknowledged that there must be a transport connection between the western areas of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, and Armenia ought to present it. Nonetheless, Armenia desires to shrink back from that and has not fulfilled its obligations for greater than two years. However that will not cease Azerbaijan, as a result of it is a strategic undertaking, not only for the nation but additionally for a number of neighboring international locations and the broader geography. The conclusion of the Zangezur Hall is a historic necessity. It’ll occur whether or not Armenia desires it or not.
– Azerbaijanis deported from Western Azerbaijan, i.e. modern-day Armenia ought to return to their ancestral lands; that is their proper, and all worldwide conventions acknowledge this proper of theirs. Azerbaijan should do its greatest to safe this proper peacefully.
– Curiosity in Azerbaijan’s vitality assets has elevated considerably. Azerbaijan is a dependable companion for a lot of international locations, together with international locations which are members of the European Union. With 2.6 trillion cubic meters of confirmed minimal reserves of pure fuel, Azerbaijan’s fields will have the ability to provide fuel to worldwide markets for no less than one other 100 years. About 24 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani fuel exports are anticipated in 2023. Profitable implementation of sure tasks will permit Azerbaijani fossil gasoline to achieve new markets within the Balkans and Western Europe.
– Years of discussions in regards to the Trans-Caspian pipeline haven’t yielded a consequence. There are a number of essential points concerning the implementation of this undertaking, considered one of which is who will finance this undertaking. There may be nonetheless no readability concerning the Trans-Caspian pipeline undertaking. It must be identified who will take this undertaking ahead and what will likely be its monetary capability.
– Azerbaijan screens and is aware of which international locations are making ready to provide arms to Armenia. Regrettably, India is amongst them, which Baku considers an unfriendly motion. These weapons, particularly offensive weapons, have a goal, and it’s Azerbaijan. Subsequently, after all, Azerbaijan is taking the mandatory measures and can’t permit Armenia to pose a menace.
– Azerbaijan has no intention of beginning a 3rd battle with Armenia. Baku hopes that 2023 brings an precise finish to the Second Karabakh Conflict and that such Armenian provocations of 2022 don’t occur this 12 months. Nonetheless, if a menace surfaces once more towards Azerbaijan, will probably be instantly eradicated with all of the means at Baku’s disposal. This can be a warning to Armenia and people behind it.
– Azerbaijan works arduous to use the nationwide military’s fight expertise based mostly on the brand new navy idea. New commando forces have already been totally shaped, turning into a significant factor, and this course of is ongoing. New commando forces will likely be created. Their quantity will likely be elevated. The dimensions of Particular Forces, the variety of particular forces inside the State Border Service, Inside Troops, State Safety Service and International Intelligence Service, and particular forces of the Nakhchivan Standalone Military has been and will likely be elevated.
– Azerbaijan has signed new contracts with main Turkish and Israeli corporations and corporations from elsewhere. On the similar time, negotiations with a number of main corporations to broaden native navy manufacturing are on the ultimate stage.
– A brand new period is starting for Azerbaijan’s navy business. Will probably be an export-oriented business. Azerbaijan at the moment sells navy merchandise to greater than 30 international locations. There’s a scarcity on the earth’s arms market. However the important demand continues to be there. That’s the reason Azerbaijan has to fill this market and will be an exporter of navy merchandise value a whole lot of hundreds of thousands of {dollars}. Baku goals for this and can transfer in direction of this objective.
– The present state of affairs in Azerbaijan-France relations is the result of the efforts of the present French authorities. Throughout the Second Karabakh battle, France overtly accused and slandered Azerbaijan. “I now demand an apology from them. They slandered us and stated that we had introduced in jihadists. There may be not a single piece of proof.”
– Throughout the Second Karabakh Conflict, France launched an initiative towards Azerbaijan within the UN. It didn’t work on the time. Then was the Francophonie endeavor, adopted by the Prague assembly. In Francophonie, they failed. The French Senate and Nationwide Meeting adopted anti-Azerbaijani resolutions. It begs the query, why? “I can’t perceive that. In different phrases, the place is that this insufficient angle in direction of us coming from? I don’t perceive and don’t even need to give it some thought. Let me say once more: we each have gone on with out each other. It has been the case to this point. So, we don’t want them. It’s simply that the state of affairs shouldn’t be regular, and we don’t imagine that we’re responsible.”
– Azerbaijan’s objective on the Lachin-Khankendi highway shouldn’t be a blockade. Some 4 hundred vehicles of peacekeepers have handed by means of there – in lower than a month. In fact, in addition they take meals and different mandatory items to the Armenians dwelling there. Permission is granted to the Pink Cross each time they apply. Azerbaijan has legit calls for. They failed to offer Azerbaijani specialists entry to the mines that have been exploited illegally. The rally of the Azerbaijani eco-activists on the Lachin-Khankendi highway will seemingly proceed till this entry is in place. Monitoring, inspection, and an finish to unlawful exploitation are mandatory, and Azerbaijan will obtain that. Subsequently, it’s unfair to name the occasions taking place on the Lachin-Khankendi highway a blockade.
– Crucial circumstances will likely be created for Armenians within the Karabakh area of Azerbaijan who need to reside there below the flag of Azerbaijan. Identical to all the opposite residents of Azerbaijan, their rights and safety will likely be offered. Whoever doesn’t need to turn into our citizen, the Lachin-Khankendi highway shouldn’t be closed; it’s open. They’ll depart each time they need; nobody would cease them. The highway is open.
– The Armenian aspect is disrupting the peace course of. Azerbaijan put ahead the 5 ideas, it must be a simple paper, a easy doc outlining the elemental ideas. There can’t be a dialog about Azerbaijan’s inner issues and all points associated to Karabakh.
– This 12 months will convey readability to many points. Baku believed that the peace settlement’s signing can be doable earlier than the tip of final 12 months. But it surely didn’t occur. Maybe Armenia is ready for some geopolitical modifications, maybe for one thing somebody promised them. “As a result of it certain appears to be like like somebody has certainly promised them one thing. An goal evaluation of the state of affairs within the area, the stability of forces, and the world’s response to the occasions that occurred two years in the past, in addition to the occasions that occurred final September, and are at the moment taking place on the Lachin-Khankendi highway, exhibits that “each man is for himself.” We may also help. Assist them to not drown totally on this quagmire of Azerbaijanophobia and hysteria.”
– “I feel they are going to hear my messages and draw the proper conclusions. Once more, I don’t need to be seen as somebody placing strain. On no account have I proven any disrespect, not even about somebody not deserving respect. I’ve to level it out once more. As a result of I feel this 12 months would be the final likelihood for them [Armenia]. As a result of then comes 2024, after which in 2025, Russia’s peacekeeping mission ends. They should see barely farther than their noses.”
– After the “demise” of the Minsk Group, the European Union began to play its position in Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization, and Baku supported it. France has nearly remoted itself from this course of. America and Russia stay. That is how Azerbaijan sees the negotiation in the mean time. In fact, Europe will be there if it treats Azerbaijan pretty.
– Azerbaijan desires all former IDPs to return to their ancestral lands quickly and can do its greatest to hurry the method up. Tons of of homes are being rebuilt and repaired in Lachin. Building has already been began in lots of villages. As much as 100 settlements are to be reconstructed within the first stage. The development of multi-story homes in Shusha, Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Zangilan has been began. The inspiration of a number of villages has been laid. 2023 will see one of many first steps of the Nice Return of Azerbaijanis to their lands.
– Karabakh and East Zangezur have been linked to the nationwide vitality grid. Eleven hydropower vegetation have been constructed on liberated lands, and their producing capability is about 55 megawatts. Building of the Photo voltaic Energy Station will start this 12 months in Jabrayil. Funding tasks value $23.5 million have already been accredited within the Aghdam Industrial Park and $5.9 million within the Jabrayil Industrial Park. Greater than a thousand entrepreneurs have utilized, and all purposes are being thought of.
– Greater than two thousand kilometers of highways and bridges are being constructed on the liberated lands. The variety of bridges will likely be greater than 100. Fifty kilometers of tunnels are being constructed inside the accredited tasks.
– The first course and objective of Azerbaijan’s international coverage are to create a extra favorable surroundings for the nation on the worldwide stage. Azerbaijan modified after the Karabakh Conflict, and so did the world after the Russia-Ukraine Conflict. These two modifications are nearly parallel processes when it comes to time. Azerbaijan ought to strengthen its place within the area and the world. The first situation is to cut back exterior dangers to zero, which Baku has succeeded in doing so, and the steps which are being taken right this moment, that are being mentioned, are calculated exactly for this.
– Azerbaijan ought to select the fitting place for itself and shouldn’t set a objective pushed by unrealistic goals. Azerbaijan’s actual pursuits should be served. Azerbaijan has alternatives to safe its political, financial, navy, and diplomatic pursuits, and makes use of its energy with nice warning. “Lengthy-distance runners normally set their tempo to complete first, and we’re a pacer, however we additionally throw in a dash when wanted.”
