Vast geography of Shusha conference participants: From UK and China to Dominican Republic Presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev brought together foreign diplomats again

An international conference in Shusha for representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations on reconstruction and rehabilitation works and plans in the liberated territories, demining operations in the post-conflict period and the use of urban development potential, opportunities for general international cooperation - another Azerbaijani contribution to the dialogue for peace and development in the South Caucasus. Over 100 foreign diplomats travelled to Fuzuli and Shusha in a very busy programme, witnessing first-hand the regeneration of the liberated lands of Azerbaijan. The geography of the conference participants deserves special attention - from diplomats from Britain, China, and Türkiye to Mexico, Chad, Dominican Republic, and New Zealand.

Travel and conference participants - ambassadors, representatives of diplomatic missions, including military attachés, and heads of offices of international organisations - were able to witness Armenian aggression and vandalism and visit the heart of liberated Karabakh - the city of Shusha. As part of the visit, representatives of diplomatic corps and international organisations in Azerbaijan visited the old centre of Fuzuli and observed the destruction during the Armenian occupation, and viewed the tunnel under construction on the Ahmadbeyli-Fuzuli-Shusha road.

During a tour of destroyed Fizuli, Emin Huseynov, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories that make up the Karabakh Economic Region (except for the Shusha District), briefed the diplomats on the reconstruction and rehabilitation works. He noted that during the occupation 8 cities were completely ruined, many villages were destroyed.

"We will restore life on our lands, clean them from mines and build better cities, and villages so that our citizens will return and live here in their homes. The National Agency for Mine Clearance employees are working day and night to clear these areas of mines," Huseynov said, after which the demining process itself was demonstrated to the tour participants.

The participants then travelled to Shusha, where they took part in a conference on recovery and reconstruction efforts and plans for the liberated territories, the use of post-conflict urban development, and opportunities for international cooperation in general.

The conference was a unique platform for discussion on these topics - so many representatives of foreign diplomatic missions visited Karabakh and Shusha in one trip. The diplomats and representatives of international organizations who saw the situation with their own eyes were able to form their individual opinion of changes occurring in the Karabakh region, and Azerbaijan's consistent and large-scale efforts to reconstruct ruined towns and villages, and ravaged lands. Azerbaijan is actively involving foreign companies from many countries in the reconstruction process. All so that the citizens of Azerbaijan, including representatives of the ethnic Armenian population, can live comfortably in the Karabakh region in the future. Or rather, those of them, who wish to continue to live on our land under the laws of Azerbaijan.

Undoubtedly, this conference has great potential in terms of its impact on the region, as it was an important milestone and a contribution to peace and security issues and the development of the Karabakh region. However, there was a fly in the ointment. The absence of representatives of the US and French diplomatic missions in Shusha, who ignored the invitation to participate in the trip and the conference, was conspicuous.

Which, of course, speaks volumes. At the very least, it proves that those countries do not like the initiatives and plans of Azerbaijan to achieve stability, balance, and peaceful coexistence of the nations in the region, which is being implemented in the liberated lands. Here, of course, this circumstance leads to one obvious fact -  the US and France co-chair the defunct OSCE Minsk Group, which for almost 30 years has failed to resolve the Karabakh conflict on the basis of international law and UN Security Council resolutions Now, for some reason, Washington is again talking about the desire to revive the unnecessary mission. Of course, Azerbaijan is against such initiatives - our country has solved the issue of return of its lands without the help of mediators, and is now vigorously restoring the region. As for the issue of ethnic Armenians living in Karabakh, Azerbaijan is ready to establish an effective dialogue with them itself, without the help of international mediators, without any statuses or preconditions. But the United States and France still seem to be unsatisfied with something. Obviously, these countries are concerned that if they lose their status as international mediators, they will not be able to be present in the region and thus have an influence on taking some important decisions. Well, we'll have to disappoint them in this.

Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev noted this point in his speech at the conference in Shusha. In particular, he underlined the fact that after the liberation of Azerbaijani lands from occupation, the ambassadors of the co-chair countries of the defunct OSCE Minsk Group did not visit these territories in Baku. However, on July 15 this year, Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mikhail Bocharnikov visited Shusha, breaking this vicious circle.

"The US and France were not interested in a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh problem," Hajiyev said.

According to him, the US and French ambassadors have defiantly refused to visit Shusha despite repeated invitations.

"This should be regarded as their disrespect for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan," the top official said.

In conclusion, it should be noted that Baku is always open to dialogue, but Azerbaijan also takes the attitude of some countries and governments towards its territorial integrity into account. After all, the absence of their representatives in Shusha shows the attitude of these countries toward Azerbaijan, to its victory, to the restoration of its territorial integrity. Therefore, such behaviour of Washington and Paris deserves not only harsh criticism but also obstruction. It seems that the White House and the Champs-Elysees were so caught up in the past and in caring for the "weak and persecuted" Armenians that they did not notice how they found themselves on the sidelines of the grand events in the region of the South Caucasus.