President Aliyev highlights strong Azerbaijan-Italy partnership at Cernobbio Forum UPDATED

In a keynote address at the International Cernobbio Forum, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized the deep and enduring strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Italy.

Speaking on the session titled “Azerbaijan's Role in the New Geopolitical Environment,” President Aliyev reflected on the longstanding relationship between the two nations, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

“Italy and Azerbaijan have already worked as strategic partners for many years, and the corresponding declaration was adopted almost ten years ago. Our cooperation covers many areas, and we have regular political contacts,” President Aliyev stated.

Noting the frequency of high-level interactions, he added, “This is my third visit to Italy since 2020, and President Mattarella paid a visit to Azerbaijan in 2018. High-level contacts demonstrate that we are very close partners.”

Highlighting the economic dimensions of the partnership, President Aliyev noted that Italy is Azerbaijan’s top trading partner globally. “Italy is Azerbaijan’s number one trading partner in the world. Last year, our trade turnover was close to 16 billion US dollars, and we see potential for growth not only in the energy sector but also in other sectors,” he said.

In terms of energy cooperation, President Aliyev emphasized Azerbaijan's pivotal role. “Azerbaijan is Italy’s number one oil supplier and number two gas supplier. This is also an important part of our cooperation,” he explained.

The President also highlighted the significance of energy security in the current geopolitical landscape. “Energy supplies today clearly demonstrate that national security cannot be separated from energy security,” President Aliyev remarked.

He further elaborated on the impact of the Southern Gas Corridor, stating, “The 3,500 km integrated pipeline system from Azerbaijan to Italy, known as the Southern Gas Corridor, today ensures energy security for ten countries. We now have ten countries receiving gas from Azerbaijan, seven of which are members of the European Union. That is probably why the European Commission calls Azerbaijan a pan-European gas supplier and a reliable partner.”

President Aliyev also praised the educational cooperation between the two countries, mentioning the Italy-Azerbaijan University. “The Italy-Azerbaijan University, which has already started functioning, is a great example of the diversification of our cooperation,” he said.

He noted that five leading Italian universities have collaborated with Azerbaijan’s ADA University to create this joint venture, which he believes will foster future collaboration. “The students who are already studying and those who will study there will naturally be connected to Italy. They will know the Italian language, they will know better Italian culture and the great historical heritage of the Italian people,” President Aliyev added.

In a significant geopolitical remark, President Aliyev addressed the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. “The biggest geopolitical change, not only in the Caucasus but in the broader region, was the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. For 30 years, our internationally recognized territories were under Armenian occupation,” he said.

He criticized the ineffectiveness of international efforts to resolve the issue, stating, “Despite numerous decisions and resolutions by international organizations, including four legally binding United Nations Security Council resolutions demanding the immediate withdrawal of Armenian forces from our lands, the occupation continued. The OSCE created a special group in order to tackle this issue. For 28 years, this group produced zero results.”  

Addressing the prospects for peace in the Southern Caucasus, President Aliyev expressed optimism. “We can achieve peace in the Southern Caucasus. It is reachable. The latest developments in the negotiation track between Azerbaijan and Armenia demonstrate that,” he said.

He elaborated on the progress in peace negotiations, stating, “We are actively continuing negotiations, with almost 80 percent of the peace treaty paragraphs having been approved. We have already started the border delimitation process, and not only delimitation but also demarcation. Yes, it’s a first small step. Only about 13 kilometers of our border, which is more than 1000 kilometers. But it is a step in the right direction and we hope that Azerbaijan’s initiative to start peace negotiations will result in a peace treaty.”

In response to questions from the moderator about Azerbaijan's potential involvement in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, President Aliyev did not rule out the possibility.

“For a hypothetical possibility, it is feasible. First of all, considering that, together with Russia and Ukraine, we were part of the Soviet Union for 70 years, we have diversified connections on a people-to-people level and on a political level. Today, we consider our relations with Russia and Ukraine to be very good. We strongly support Ukraine’s and all countries’ territorial integrity and sovereignty. But at the same time, we were not, and we will not be, a part of the anti-Russian sanctions campaign,” the head of state underlined.

“With these pragmatic relations, I think we can play a role. We have never initiated that. I know there are many others who want to be involved. But if our involvement is needed, we are ready,” President Aliyev added.

Addressing the travel ban imposed on Azerbaijani delegation members by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), President Aliyev confirmed that the ban would be lifted upon the return of Azerbaijan’s delegation to the organization.

“What happened this January was crossing the red line... We restored our sovereignty completely last year. So last September, separatism was totally eliminated from Azerbaijan’s territory. We did not do anything different from what Ukraine is trying to do. Ukraine is trying to restore its sovereignty without success, regardless of huge Western support. We restored our sovereignty without any support by ourselves. Just in several months after that, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe decided to deprive our delegation of its voting rights. These were the sanctions imposed on us because we restored our sovereignty,” he said.

He described the decision to declare PACE members as persona non-grata as a justified response. “So our decision was a response. If they change their decision and restore our right, in January they will have this chance, so this so-called embargo will be lifted,” President Aliyev concluded.