Ilham Aliyev's interview with "Rossiya Segodnya" grabs global media spotlight PHOTO

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's remarks in interview on December 17 with Dmitry Kiselev, Director-General of "Rossiya Segodnya" and host of "Vesti Nedeli" on Russia-1, were widely covered by global media.

The Russian news agency TASS highlighted President Ilham Aliyev's remarks that official Baku welcomes the participation of Russian companies in the reconstruction of Karabakh and investments from Russia, Caliber.Az reports.

The President of Azerbaijan emphasised that the first foreign investment project belongs to Russia.

News.ru focused on the Azerbaijani leader's comments about Josep Borrell, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs. It was noted that President Ilham Aliyev, in one of his speeches at the COP29, quoted Borrell, who compared Europe to a blooming garden and others to jungles. 

The article also included the Azerbaijani President's thoughts: "As for Borrell, I think that if he had lived several decades earlier, he would have made a good foreign minister for dictator Franco. He was simply unlucky to live in a different era."

RBK reported on President Ilham Aliyev's view of the recent events in Georgia. It was noted that the Azerbaijani leader stressed French President Emmanuel Macron’s involvement in the unrest in Georgia, stating that he cannot stay calm in his own country and has now set his sights on Georgia.

The newspaper "Tatarstan-online" focused on the head of state's comments regarding the first investment project related to the reconstruction of Karabakh, which was implemented by Tatarstan. President Aliyev reminded about the opening of a service centre for "KAMAZ" in the Jabrayil region, which he described as the first foreign investment project.

The news agency Interfax quoted President Ilham Aliyev's remarks about EU observers in Armenia turning into a NATO mission. According to the Azerbaijani leader, under the guise of "European observers," NATO is creating infrastructure on the border with Armenia. Furthermore, the agency reported on the President's view on the arms supplies to Armenia from France, India, and the USA.

Qazeta.ru highlighted President Ilham Aliyev's wish for his Russian counterpart's team to take all measures to minimise the negative consequences of the sanctions policy, expressing confidence in Russia's strength and resolve. The Azerbaijani leader also expressed his hope that such solidarity would continue in the future.

Turkish news outlets, including Anadolu Agency, Cumhuriyet, and BengüTürk TV, stressed President Ilham Aliyev’s comments on the security alliance between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, noting that the two countries conduct more than 10 joint military drills every year, which serves as an important factor for stability in the Caucasus.

An article published on the HaberGlobal TV highlighted that the head of state said two unresolved issues remain in the peace talks with Armenia: "the non-assertion of international claims against each other" and "the non-deployment of representatives of other states on the borders."

The newspaper Star published President Ilham Aliyev's response to a journalist's question about the necessity of a Turkish military base in Azerbaijan: "The Declaration of Alliance includes a clause that provides for mutual military assistance in the event of a threat or aggression. That is, it is an obligation for both Azerbaijan and Türkiye to assist each other if either country faces an external threat or aggression."

The newspaper Başka and news agency CUMHA reported on the President's comments about arms supplies to Armenia by France and other countries. According to the Azerbaijani leader, "The weapons that Macron's government supplies to Armenia are offensive weapons, which pose a practical threat to Azerbaijan... We have repeatedly conveyed to Armenia and its patrons in the U.S. State Department that this must be stopped. Unfortunately, we have not been heard, and the process of rearming Armenia is progressing rapidly. We are tracking everything that is happening there."

The portal Artı Gerçek reported that President Ilham Aliyev called the news regarding the plan to establish a Turkish military base in Azerbaijan "political speculation," emphasising that there is no need for such a base.

Gazete Kritik reported on the President’s views on the ongoing confrontation between Russia and the West. It quoted President Ilham Aliyev saying, "To imagine such a scenario where NATO and Russia engage in a hot war is the same as imagining a global apocalypse. It is clear that there will be no winners in this war. And no country, even one located far from NATO or Russia’s territory, will feel safe."

The information provided by Turkish Cypriot news agency Türk Ajansı Kipr and Kıbrıs Türk emphasized President Ilham Aliyev’s remarks on the security alliance between Azerbaijan and Türkiye. He stressed that military relations with Türkiye have been ongoing since the first days of Azerbaijan's independence, and that official Ankara played a significant role in modernising Azerbaijan's army and bringing it to high standards.

Major Romanian media outlets also dedicated significant coverage to President Ilham Aliyev's interview. National news agency AGERPRES, along with portals digi24.ro, stirileprotv.ro, adevarul.ro, capital.ro, and financialintelligence.ro, as well as newspapers such as Prima Pagina and Ziarul Amprenta, reported that President Ilham Aliyev spoke about the imminent completion of the technical and economic feasibility study for the underwater cable that will transport electricity from Azerbaijan to Europe.

"At the initial stage, this will be 4,000 megawatts, but given the energy needs of European countries, even though they are investing heavily, we know they will still be in deficit," the media quoted the head of state as saying.

Algerian publication al24news highlighted that President Ilham Aliyev sharply criticised France's illegal occupation of Mayotte and New Caledonia in the interview. The portal noted that the Azerbaijani President condemned the killing of 13 people during riots in New Caledonia, the wounding of over 100 people, and the arrest of more than a thousand, blaming the French government for the violence. President Ilham Aliyev stated that this was the result of Macron's dictatorship, and that official Paris had accused Azerbaijan of supporting New Caledonia.

The portal Euromedia24 reported that during his interview with Dmitry Kiselev, President Ilham Aliyev noted that there is enough political wisdom to prevent a disastrous war scenario between NATO and Russia. The portal quoted the Azerbaijani leader saying, "I believe there is enough political wisdom in Washington, Moscow, and other capitals to ensure that such a nightmarish scenario does not materialise."

In an article titled "President Ilham Aliyev urged 'Sorosists' in the USA not to supply weapons to Armenia," published on the Bulgarian news portal Zemya, as well as in a related article by the news agency Fokus, President Aliyev's warning to "Sorosists" in the U.S. not to send arms to Armenia was reported. He emphasised that this could lead to a new war.

The President of Azerbaijan further stated, "We are conveying to the Armenian sponsors, the so-called Sorosists in Washington, that this must stop. If this continues, there will be no complaints towards us afterwards."

Websites reported that the head of state also stated that Azerbaijan will take appropriate measures, with the military budget for 2025 expected to reach a record high.

Media outlets Faktı, Classa, and NetNews highlighted President Ilham Aliyev's comments on Azerbaijan-Türkiye military and strategic alliance ties, as well as Russia’s investments in the reconstruction work in liberated territories.

The Greek portal EL reported that President Ilham Aliyev mentioned the lack of necessity for a Turkish military base in Azerbaijan, calling the associated information "political speculation." He emphasised that the Shusha Declaration provides for mutual military support between the two countries.

The portal also published the Azerbaijani President's thoughts on the possibility of war between NATO and Russia. It noted that the tension between NATO and Russia is causing concern in many countries. "To imagine a scenario in which NATO and Russia engage in a hot war is equivalent to imagining a global apocalypse," the portal quoted President Ilham Aliyev.

Georgian media outlets also dedicated articles to President Ilham Aliyev's statements made in the interview with Dmitry Kiselev. Qafqazturk.com quoted the Azerbaijani President’s remarks on Azerbaijan-Georgian relations: "Georgia is a very important partner and close friend for us. Our peoples have lived in peace and harmony for centuries, so any destabilisation or threat to Georgia's stability is as harmful to Azerbaijan as it is to Georgia."

The article also noted President Aliyev's comments on French President Emmanuel Macron’s interference in Georgia's situation.

Citing President Ilham Aliyev, the portal İnterpressnews.ge reported, "It’s good that the situation is now moving towards stability. But again, look, Macron's ears are sticking out. He can't sit still in his own country. He has to meddle in Georgia."

Sputnik-Georgia quoted the Azerbaijani President about relations with Türkiye and the likelihood of a Turkish military base being deployed in Azerbaijan. The portal reported that Azerbaijan has been cooperating militarily with Türkiye since the early years of its independence, and that this cooperation continues.

Aktual.ge also dedicated an article to President Ilham Aliyev’s interview. Quoting excerpts from the interview, the portal stated, "And what did we see at the ceremony at Notre-Dame Cathedral? Pope Francis ignored the ceremony, he did not forgive Macron for the Olympic scandal, of course. He went to Corsica, to sting him somewhere more painfully," the portal quoted President Aliyev's words.

Websites Aktual.ge, Realnews.ge, and 24news.ge focused on President Ilham Aliyev's remarks on the friendly and partnership relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as the situation in the country.

Kazakhstan's Tengrinews portal quoted President Ilham Aliyev's thoughts on French President Macron's involvement in the demonstrations in Georgia. "It's good that the situation is now moving towards stability. But again, look, Macron's ears are sticking out. He can't sit still in his own country. He has to meddle in Georgia," the portal quoted the Azerbaijani President.

The site also covered the Azerbaijani President's views on NGOs operating in Georgia and funded from abroad.

The site Toppress focused on President Ilham Aliyev's remarks about USAID activities. "They are persistently trying to help. But we are all adults, and we understand everything. So we have arranged things here. For example, Azerbaijani media cannot be funded from foreign sources even by one percent. They can't. And why should they? We don't fund media in the U.S., right? So why should they fund our media?"

The portal "Ustinka" noted that President Ilham Aliyev expressed Azerbaijan’s readiness to accept Russian investments in Karabakh. It was highlighted that the first investment project was implemented by Tatarstan. "So, we are expecting investments, and we will also be happy to welcome contractors," the portal quoted the Azerbaijani President.

It should be noted that information resources from different countries continue to publish excerpts from President Ilham Aliyev’s interview.

By Aghakazim Guliyev