Azerbaijani ambassador hails high-level Moscow-Baku ties In an interview with Russian media

In a special interview with TASS, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu reviewed the results of his long-term diplomatic work in Moscow and offered advice to his successor.

— Mr. Ambassador, after 18 years in the position of head of the Azerbaijani diplomatic mission in Russia, how do you assess the results of your work?

— It is very difficult for me to evaluate my own work. Over these eighteen and a half years, as they say, much has happened and many changes have occurred. I am, of course, pleased that today the relationship between Russia and Azerbaijan is at a very high level of allied interaction. We work very actively, and there are no deep contradictions between our countries at present. As in any home, family, or relationship, there are occasional disagreements—life is life—but what is most important is that today we have established such a relationship that allows us to openly and amicably discuss any issues that arise. There are active political consultations between the foreign ministries of both countries. The intergovernmental commission is working very productively, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexey Overchuk on the Russian side and Azerbaijani Vice Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev on the Azerbaijani side. The most recent meeting took place recently in Baku on August 9.

Our parliamentary ties are also at a high level. Prime Ministers and many sectoral ministers communicate with each other directly.

In April of this year, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited Moscow. He had an extensive conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which many issues were discussed. Our president also took part in a ceremonial assembly marking the 50th anniversary of the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM). As you know, Ilham's father, Heydar Aliyev, played a significant role in the construction and completion of the Baikal-Amur Mainline. His contributions were personally acknowledged by all participants in the meeting. BAM was not just a construction project but a symbol of the Soviet era. It should be noted that BAM continues to benefit modern Russia. As announced, Baku is preparing to host President Vladimir Putin of Russia on August 18-19. To my knowledge, a very intensive dialogue between the two leaders is expected.

— What tasks will your successor face in their new position?

— Let’s hope that they won’t have to deal with any major global issues, because there are none at the moment. However, there is a very extensive agenda between the two countries—not only political and economic but also cultural, social, and humanitarian. So, of course, there is a lot of work to be done. It is a daily and very responsible task. I would like to wish my successor great success in advance.

— Has the candidate for your successor been agreed upon yet?

— No, not yet.

— Grigory Karasin, head of the Federation Council's Committee on Foreign Affairs, recently mentioned that preparations would soon begin for opening a Russian consulate in Khankendi. Do you have any information on when this consulate might be established in Karabakh?

— The Russian Federation has expressed interest in opening a consulate, considering that we already have two consulates in Russia—one in Yekaterinburg and one in St. Petersburg. Given the vast size of Russia and the significant Azerbaijani community there, this makes sense. However, the scope for consular activities within Azerbaijan is more limited. Nevertheless, efforts are underway, and various options are being explored. This issue is still under discussion.

— The United States is considering the creation of a new land route from Central Asian countries to global markets via Armenia and Azerbaijan, bypassing Russia and China. Is there concern in Baku that Washington is trying to destabilize the South Caucasus region again?

— I wouldn't politicize this issue. The fact is that any new transportation initiative does not automatically mean that everyone will abandon established and convenient routes in favor of the new one. It doesn’t work that way. It requires significant time, investment, and the agreement of many countries. Personally, I believe that the more transportation options available and the more diverse they are, the better the conditions for business development. Each new or railway creates new opportunities. What is a transport corridor? It is a means to move goods and people, and it provides opportunities for trade. The more roads there are, the easier it is to do business, trade, and develop tourism. Every new road contributes to regional development.

— Azerbaijan has expressed interest in becoming a BRICS member. Has Baku officially submitted an application to join?

— There is a long line of countries interested in joining BRICS. Azerbaijan has indeed expressed such an interest. We have discussed this with our Russian colleagues, but this is also a process that is still in progress.

— Have Russian observers been invited to the snap parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan scheduled for September 1?

— Yes, invitations have been extended to both the Federation Council and the State Duma. We have confidence in the objectivity of the representatives from the Russian Federation. Typically, representatives from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Interparliamentary Assembly also attend our elections.

— Are there any concerns about potential unrest, as seen in many other countries during election periods?

— I hope not. Elections are always a significant and serious event for any state and its people; they represent the expression of the people's will. It's crucial that they are conducted in an open, democratic environment where people can freely express their opinions. As for the unrest that has occurred during elections in many countries, I don't believe anything similar could happen in Azerbaijan.

— You have decided to run as a candidate for the Shusha-Agdam-Khojaly-Khojavend Electoral District No. 124 in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan this September. Why did you choose to change your political focus now, and what goals do you have for the future?

— My father, the renowned Soviet and Azerbaijani opera singer Bulbul, was born in Shusha, Karabakh. In recent years, following the liberation of our lands, my life has become closely intertwined with my homeland once again. The house where my father was born is located there, and upon the instruction of President Ilham Aliyev, I restored it after it had been destroyed by Armenian vandals. Today, it functions as a house-museum, and I'm delighted that many tourists now visit Shusha and the Bulbul House-Museum. So, my decision to run for parliament feels entirely natural. I spent eighteen and a half years working in Moscow, which is a significant period for diplomatic service. At this stage in my life, it feels right to represent my native Shusha and the people of the region in parliament. I sincerely hope to be elected; it would be a great honour to be the first deputy after the liberation of Karabakh. I want to dedicate the rest of my life— as long as Allah grants me—to connecting more deeply with the people and nature of my homeland. When I visit Shusha, I find peace for my soul. The air is crystal clear, the nature is beautiful, and the people are wonderful. With my extensive experience in administration and diplomacy, I believe I can make a meaningful contribution in this new role.

— As you conclude your diplomatic mission in Moscow, how would you characterize the outcomes of the bilateral dialogue?

— Well, taking this opportunity—after all, it’s not every day that ambassadors give interviews to agencies like TASS—I would like to express my deep gratitude to everyone I have worked with over these years in the Russian Federation. First and foremost, I want to highlight the professionalism of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which I would like to especially acknowledge. I am pleased that throughout my tenure, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia was the outstanding diplomat Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov, with whom I had the opportunity to meet many times to discuss and resolve numerous issues. Each year, and sometimes several times a year, Sergey Viktorovich visited Azerbaijan on official visits. These were very interesting meetings and discussions, both at the level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the leadership of the republic. These eighteen and a half years have passed very quickly and have been very eventful. For the past five years, I have served as the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Moscow. In Moscow, there is a tradition where newly appointed ambassadors pay a courtesy visit to the Dean, who then gives them guidance for their future work. I always told my newly arrived colleagues that, regardless of the political situation, Moscow is one of the most cultured capitals in the world. The theatrical productions, concerts, and exhibitions in Moscow provide an opportunity to connect with high culture. I always tell my colleagues that while you and your families are here, take advantage of this wealth because no cultured person in the world can overlook Russian culture. I’m not even talking about the classics like Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Pushkin, Lermontov—these are already traditional examples—or in music, Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Rimsky-Korsakov. These are giants who have left their mark on the world’s cultural heritage. The remarkable museums of the Kremlin, the magnificent Pushkin State Museum, or, if we consider St. Petersburg, where literally every stone is history, the Hermitage, and other museums are also in St. Petersburg. Each year, the city hosts a cultural forum, an economic forum. So, indeed, the cultural life here is very rich. As the Chairman of the CIS Interstate Humanitarian Cooperation Fund, I participated in many humanitarian events and organized a wide range of activities, not only in Moscow and St. Petersburg but also in other cities across the Russian Federation. Therefore, in addition to my duties as an ambassador, I was also very pleased to engage in activities related to culture and humanitarian communication, not only between our two countries but also among all CIS countries. These years have been very important for me, both personally and spiritually. I want to thank everyone once again for helping me with my work here. I have received three awards from the Russian Federation: the Order of Friendship, the Order of the Badge of Honor, and a Certificate of Honor from the President of the Russian Federation. I also have two medals from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs—the 200th Anniversary of the Consular Service Medal and the Medal for Strengthening International Cooperation. Additionally, I am an Honored Artist of Dagestan.

I would also like to note that despite the end of my diplomatic mission, my connections with Moscow and Russia will not be severed. In February, I will turn 80 years old. To mark this occasion, we are planning a major concert of my works at the Kremlin Palace, featuring my friends, colleagues, and, of course, myself. On February 4th, on my actual birthday, there will be a symphonic concert of my symphonic works at the Moscow State Philharmonic Hall, named after Tchaikovsky, which will include a performance by the outstanding world-class violinist Vadim Repin, who will play my violin concerto. So, even though I am stepping down from my position as ambassador in Russia, it does not mean that I will leave and forget everything. That won’t happen; we will continue to stay in touch.

If I am elected to Parliament, there is a friendship group with Russia there. I will certainly try to join this group and, on a parliamentary level, I hope we will continue our communication. So, see you next time!