Igor Korotchenko: President of Azerbaijan again dotted the i’s in relations with Russia at the Shusha global media forum

General Director of the Caspian Institute of Strategic Studies (Russia) Igor Korotchenko who became one of the participants of the global media forum held in Shusha the other day told the «Moscow-Baku» information agency in an interview why the speech by Azerbaijan’s President at the media summit can be considered a program, responded to the head of state’s position on the relations with Russia in the conditions of world turbulence and disclosed what surprised the forum participants.

– Igor Yurievich, what are your impressions about Ilham Aliyev’s communication with the mass media representatives at the global media forum in Shusha and the president’s replies. How would you describe them?

– In my view, the Shusha global media forum became one of important international events of the past week, an outstanding event. Holding the forum was Azerbaijan’s political, diplomatic, information triumph.

The head of state demonstrated a deep analysis of the regional and international situation, excellent knowledge of figures, facts, as well as strategic goal-setting. Ilham Aliyev demonstrated unique qualities of a unique leader, politician, diplomat.

One can’t help but pay attention to details: President Aliyev was holding a meeting with the forum participants in the so called «no tie» format. Psychologically it definitely won over all those present, which essentially emphasized the leader’s openness. It was a direct, sincere conversation.

Besides, the head of state answered the questions in three languages: Azerbaijani, English and Russian. Ilham Heydarovich demonstrated again that he is one of the world’s advanced leaders, calm, self-confident, conducting a dialogue in a pleasant manner, demonstrating a deep intellect. Instant, clear presentation of a problem, position, thoughts makes the President of Azerbaijan a very distinguished figure. All forum participants, without exceptions, were much impressed.

Aliyev’s speech may be called a program because the range of issues raised was so extensive, objectives of the state policy for the near future were stated, strategic vision was reflected.

It was exactly on this subject that I asked a question – about the strategy of Azerbaijan’s future development, how the president visualizes it, what are the main priorities. The president responded that the primary objective is to establish peace and security in the region, through normalization of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations, too, enhancing wellbeing of the Azerbaijani people.  The head of state noted that Baku understands the trends of world economy and, correspondingly, places emphasis on continued development of the non-oil sector, on development of renewed energy sources for volumes of natural resources may be exhausted. This is a very sensible approach.

Building a foundation for the economy of the future is one of the priority missions today for the leaders who prepare themselves for future challenges and want their state to be successful. President Aliyev feels very well the pulse of the time and pursues a policy based on responding to the current and future challenges and on the past experience. In this connection the president views Karabakh today as a driver of the country’s economic development.

Ilham Aliyev is the unique leader who, in the conditions of world turbulence, leads his state ahead, thinks ahead, calculates all risks and is truly independent chief executive. This is very rare in our time, particularly in the current political environment when the system of international relations is changing.

One of today’s priorities in Azerbaijan’s policy is further modernization, outfitting of its Armed Forces with advanced weapons, enhancing their effectiveness.

I think that one more detail is important: the president noted that like any man he reacts to injustice wherever he sees it and the Azerbaijani authorities will do their best to enhance the people’s living standards. It is very important when the head of state applies such approach, when he cares about the welfare in his country, when he meets people and finds out about their aspirations via a direct contact.

By the way, Armenia reacted quite nervously to the media forum, both the segment of social networks and the official Erevan. The prime-minister even decided to hold a press conference one of these days as a «response». The forum once again bolstered Azerbaijan’s international authority and let its point of view be known to the media communities in ten states especially when the information war and struggle for interpretations are underway.

It was very pleasant when Ilham Heydarovich came to me after the forum was over to say hello, to shake hands for it is a gesture, too. Forum participants began to come closer, make a selfie with the president, talk. Such easy socializing also indicates a politician’s level.

All paid attention to the excellent organization of the media forum. It was held in a beautiful five-star hotel «Shusha», which was commissioned recently. It is somewhat symbolic that it was built in the location where the separatists wanted to erect a parliament.

We also saw active work being done in order to restore the liberated Azerbaijani territories and the consequences of the 30-year old occupation. Restoration work is underway in Shusha, a large number of historical monuments were reconstructed, religious holy sites are refurbished, both Muslim and Christian. When we travelled on the Road of Victory to Shusha we saw large-scale infrastructure transformations. The results of reconstruction in the liberated territories, the contrast which can be seen when comparing what the Azerbaijani lands looked like immediately after the liberation and what transformations were carried out of late is also the success of Azerbaijan.

– Ilham Aliyev also answered the question about the Azerbaijani-Russian relations in the conditions of international turbulence and fulfillment of the Declaration on Allied Interaction…

– Ilham Heydarovich certainly once again dotted the i’s here and rebuffed those who try to set our states against each other. He separated the wheat from the chaff.  Yes, we sometimes see a certain divergence in our positions, we also see all sorts of «publications» in the mass media of the two states with relation to each other. Aliyev referred to that as «rough edges» which do not set the tone of the Azerbaijani-Russian dialogue and political relationship. It is a very important statement.

Ilham Aliyev indicated that a policy in the bilateral interaction is determined specifically by good relations between the two leaders, by the Declaration on Allied Interaction and no «rough edges» are able to influence and do not influence practical policy in the relations.

Today, like a year ago, when the President of Azerbaijan and the Russian leader signed the historic declaration in spite of the current difficult time, Ilham Aliyev once again demonstrated that all the decisions he makes are based on a long-term strategy, understanding of the situation and benefit for Azerbaijan’s national interests. At the forum Ilham Heydarovich spoke about Russia in a very complimentary manner. So, there is no doubt whatsoever that the future of Azerbaijani-Russian relations is positive.

– One more statement made by the president at the forum is the fact that Armenia is becoming a territory of confrontation while Azerbaijan tends to build up the status of a cooperation territory…

– Indeed, turbulence does not disappear in Armenia. Today it is used by the West as a tool of manipulations against Russia, for destabilization in the South Caucasus, as a means to exacerbate the security architecture and for provocations.

Another and quite objective example is Azerbaijan which does its utmost for the Transcaucasus to become a safe region of peace and cooperation. Not without reason President Aliyev gave examples when a while ago it was Baku that was selected by Russia and the USA for bilateral negotiations.

Besides, the president very clearly defined the processes now taking place in the part of the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan where the Armenian ethnic minority resides. This minority became hostages to the chieftains of the separatist regime that uses ordinary people as «hostages» in order to achieve their own political and economic ambitions. Aliyev notes regularly that the Azerbaijani authorities consider the Armenians residing in Karabakh as its citizens. The process of history is inevitable and one way or the other this will happen. As Ilham Aliyev noted, settlement between Azerbaijan and Armenia is a path to prosperity in the South Caucasus for international investors check to see before making investments to what extent these investments will be safe in terms of the future.

Besides, it is very indicative that the president once again drew attention to the fact that nobody cancelled the Zangezur corridor and that it will be implemented by all means. The President of Azerbaijan once again gave a signal: Baku is ready for peace with Armenia and promotes this agenda. A peace agreement is necessary.