ECO Summit in Khankendi: An event that will go down in history

In the 18th century, Khankendi was founded by Panah Ali Khan, the creator and first ruler of the Karabakh Khanate. On 15 October 2023, President Ilham Aliyev raised the State Flag of Azerbaijan in Khankendi to mark the restoration of the country’s sovereignty. And on 4 July 2025, the city warmly opened its doors to the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), welcoming high-level delegations from Türkiye, Pakistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, as well as officials from a number of other countries. The summit was also attended by a delegation from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in observer capacity.

Perhaps, for some, the hosting of such a large-scale event in Khankendi with the active participation of leaders from friendly nations may seem sensational. But not for the people of Azerbaijan and their fraternal communities, who are witnessing the city’s revival and its transformation into a place of grandeur.

Undoubtedly, our adversaries and ill-wishers are reacting furiously to this development — but how brilliantly historical justice has triumphed in this region! Despite challenges and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, the "Iron Fist" achieved all of its goals in Karabakh and East Zangezur.

Khankendi has blossomed with a magnificent Azerbaijani spirit — the spirit of development and progress! Therefore, holding the ECO Summit in this city under the theme “New ECO Vision for a Sustainable and Climate Resilient Future” does not appear out of place. Those who follow Azerbaijan’s modern history know this well: the Azerbaijani people are a people of builders, and Azerbaijan is a state of creation.

Since 2024, Karabakh University has been operating in Khankendi. That same year saw the opening of a school, a kindergarten, and a sewing factory — a joint Azerbaijani-Uzbek enterprise established with Uzbek investment — along with the “Karabakh” and “Palace” hotels, and several other facilities.

Ahead of the current ECO Summit, the head of state participated in the opening of a business centre and a congress centre in Khankendi (which became the main venue for the summit), laid the foundation for a railway and bus terminal complex, reviewed the progress of work in Victory Park, and visited the designated site for the construction of the Khankendi–Shusha cable car line.

The implementation of this latter project will not only boost tourism in the region but also ensure convenient transport connectivity between the cities.

Is any further commentary really necessary? Especially considering that it has already been provided — by high-ranking guests who openly expressed their admiration for what is taking place in and around Khankendi.

Participants of the summit listened attentively as President Ilham Aliyev spoke about the implementation of the state programme “The Great Return” on the territories liberated from occupation and left in ruins by Armenia. Under this programme, Baku has already ensured the return of former internally displaced persons to 16 cities and villages.

In this context, particular importance was given to President Ilham Aliyev’s emphasis on the need to ensure the rights of Western Azerbaijanis who were forcibly expelled from Armenia.

In this regard, President Aliyev highly praised the unanimous resolution adopted at the recent meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul, which reaffirms the right of Azerbaijanis forcibly displaced from Armenia to return.

The head of state also drew attention to the condemnation expressed in the adopted “Istanbul Declaration” regarding Armenia’s refusal to engage in dialogue with the Western Azerbaijan Community. In this connection, the president reaffirmed that efforts to ensure the peaceful return of Western Azerbaijanis to their ancestral lands will continue.

The President’s affirmation of this fact is especially significant, as his words are always backed by action. As early as 24 December 2022, in his address to representatives of the intelligentsia from Western Azerbaijan, the president expressed hope that the day would come when compatriots from Western Azerbaijan — their families, children, and grandchildren — would return to their historical homeland with enthusiasm and inspiration. In this regard, the words of a European political figure come to mind: “If Mr Ilham Aliyev says something, that’s enough — it will happen.”

Reflecting on Azerbaijan’s role within the ECO, the President noted that, at Azerbaijan’s initiative, ECO Week is being held for the first time this year, with key events taking place on territories liberated from occupation: the ECO Business Forum in Shusha, the Youth Forum in Aghdam, and the Women’s Forum in Lachin. This inevitably brings to mind Baku’s international initiatives during its chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, when it established parliamentary and youth networks, as well as a women's platform.

Another key point highlighted by the head of state was the favourable investment climate in Azerbaijan. The country is traversed by major East–West and North–South transport corridors, which are actively used by the majority of ECO member states.

Undoubtedly, as with all of President Ilham Aliyev’s policy speeches, his address in Khankendi carried particular weight — his words are closely followed in capitals across the world. And there is no doubt that all relevant stakeholders clearly received the messages conveyed by the President of Azerbaijan.

Returning to the significance of holding the 17th ECO Summit in Khankendi, it should be noted that its historic nature was also emphasised by the forum’s participants.

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed the heartfelt joy of fraternal nations over the fact that this region is truly becoming a space of peace and creation in the fullest sense of the word.

Once again, Azerbaijan has demonstrated that it is one of the key geopolitical links in today’s world. And this is not solely due to its advantageous geographic location or natural resources, but also because of the deliberate and well-considered actions of official Baku aimed at strengthening peace, stability, and security — both in the region and beyond.

Conducting its foreign policy solely in the national interest, Azerbaijan, as President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly stressed, has never interfered in the affairs of others, nor caused harm to anyone. But, he noted, “we have always taught a lesson to those who tried to interfere in our affairs — so they wouldn’t do it again.” Clear and concise.

Finally, work continues on the establishment of an ECO Research Centre and a Clean Energy Centre in Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, Shusha has been declared the ECO tourism capital for 2026.