Azerbaijani leader calls for end to global conflicts

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called for an end to ongoing conflicts, urged neighbouring countries to avoid further escalation in the region, and defended the work of the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) during the opening ceremony of the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum.

Addressing global conflicts, the president said the war between Russia and Ukraine should end as soon as possible, Caliber.Az reports via Azertag. 

“I think it should have been realized long ago that this war must be stopped, and this must happen immediately. This is the position of Azerbaijan, this is my personal human position,” the head of state said.

He also appealed to countries in the region to act responsibly and avoid actions that could lead to wider instability.

"My message to our neighbors is to be responsible and to stop as soon as possible and try to normalize relations and not to escalate this process to a global conflict. This is a big danger, and I call for responsibility,” Aliyev said.

The Azerbaijani president added that he hoped mediation efforts by Azerbaijan's partners in Pakistan would once again help bring about a cessation of confrontation.

He also defended the activities of the Baku Initiative Group, which has campaigned on issues related to colonialism and the rights of people living in France's overseas territories.

“For many years, so-called overseas territories of France, which are de facto colonies, were under suppression. Different illegal things were taking place there, including nuclear tests. How many nuclear tests were held in Polynesia? Maybe 100, or maybe 200, or maybe more. And so many people were affected by that,” he said.

The president added: “So many people lost their lives, lost their health, and when Baku Initiative Group raises this issue, unfortunately, is unfairly accused of some kind of hybrid war. This is absolutely unfair. I think the role of independent media is very important.”

Aliyev said Azerbaijan had faced accusations of interfering in France's internal affairs because of the initiative's activities.

“Issues of human rights are universal issues, and the Baku Initiative Group is NGO, maybe the first and the most efficient, which brings this issue to the global agenda, because for many years, so-called overseas territories of France, which are de facto colonies, were under suppression,” the president said.

By Sabina Mammadli