President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev opened the XIII Global Baku Forum held at the Gulustan Palace under his patronage and organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, addressing global security challenges, regional connectivity, and the peace process with Armenia.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Azerbaijani president described the Nizami Ganjavi International Center as one of the leading international platforms for global dialogue, noting that it has earned strong international recognition for discussing major global issues and shaping approaches to the changing international environment.
Aliyev emphasized that global conflicts continue to disrupt traditional transportation routes and create serious problems for countries and economies worldwide.
“When transportation and connectivity are disrupted, many members of the international community face significant difficulties,” he said.
The Azerbaijani leader noted that Azerbaijan is actively investing in major transport corridors, including the Middle Corridor and the North–South corridor, and that all key infrastructure projects on Azerbaijani territory have already been completed.
“The demand for cargo transportation through Azerbaijan is increasing, and we are playing an important transit role for many countries both in the West and in the East,” Aliyev stated.
The president also addressed the peace process with Armenia, stressing that peace between the two countries is already visible in practice, not only in formal agreements.
“Although the joint declaration with Armenia was signed and initialed several months ago, we already feel peace on the ground,” he said.
Aliyev noted that there have been no shootings, casualties, or losses along the border, and Azerbaijan has removed restrictions on cargo transit to Armenia from different directions. In addition, Baku has begun trade with Armenia and exports of essential petroleum products.
Highlighting Azerbaijan’s recent history, Aliyev recalled that 20 percent of the country’s territory remained under occupation for 30 years, while millions of people worldwide continue to face ethnic cleansing and conflict.
He also criticized what he described as a lack of sufficient international attention and selective approaches by some international actors to global conflicts.
According to the Azerbaijani president, regional security has always been Azerbaijan’s top priority, with the restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity remaining central to the country’s agenda.
“Only for the past seven months have we been living in peace,” Aliyev said, stressing that achieving peace requires strong political will and commitment to justice.
The president added that the agenda of the Global Baku Forum is broad and covers numerous global issues, expressing confidence that discussions will focus on both regional and global developments.
“Security and stability must remain the number one priority for any country. Without them, all other efforts lose their meaning,” Aliyev concluded.
