During his address at the summit, Aliyev touched on several topics. He welcomed the declaration of Lachin as the cultural capital of the CIS for 2025 and the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Ganja. Additionally, he mentioned the upcoming COP29 climate summit in Baku and Azerbaijan’s contribution to the victory over Germany in World War II.
At the previous CIS summit, the main breakthrough was Azerbaijan’s restoration of full sovereignty over its territory. Now, the focus is on the reconstruction of formerly occupied lands. The designation of Lachin as the cultural capital of the CIS for next year is a clear sign of the success of the Great Return program and how swiftly Azerbaijan is reviving its cities and villages on liberated territories, despite the extensive damage and urbicide inflicted by Armenian occupiers.
But this is not all. Azerbaijan’s diplomacy may play a pivotal role in the future development of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
As many have noted, the CIS was initially created as a “civilized divorce” for the newly independent states that emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union. While there were attempts to mold the CIS into something more cohesive and integrated, possibly a new version of the USSR, such efforts were met with resistance. Although the newly independent states were formally recognized under international law, many leading nations were slow to treat them as fully independent. The term “near abroad” was popular in Moscow, while in Western capitals, there was speculation about whether these “geographical novelties” would survive as independent states or eventually merge into a new semblance of the Soviet Union.
Representing all CIS members is a daunting task, but today, Azerbaijan is a fully established state. We have passed the ultimate test of statehood by restoring our territorial integrity and sovereignty within internationally recognized borders. So far, no other post-Soviet nation has achieved this—neither Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, nor Estonia with its territorial dispute with Russia, despite being a member of both the EU and NATO. Azerbaijan boasts a stable economy built on post-Soviet realities and an independent oil and gas export system. The upcoming COP29 summit further showcases our foreign policy at a level not often associated with a post-Soviet, predominantly Muslim country, a recognition that some are still reluctant to give.
This means Azerbaijan has outgrown the post-Soviet framework. The issues President Ilham Aliyev raises at CIS summits are far removed from the mixture of adolescent grievances and dependency on Moscow, which, for instance, Armenia struggles to escape. However, Azerbaijan is in no hurry to leave the CIS. Our country remains open to cooperation within this platform. Aliyev’s statement, “Azerbaijan places great importance on this cooperation and will continue to contribute to strengthening our interactions,” is not just rhetoric. In fact, Azerbaijan is presenting and demonstrating a new concept and philosophy of cooperation within the CIS—based on mutual respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and without attempts at dominance, as befits truly independent states. This philosophy can and should transform the CIS into a true commonwealth of independent states.
Azerbaijan has adhered to this position from the outset. Our country has never participated in integration processes or initiatives within the CIS framework. Officially, this stance is expressed as follows: the Republic of Azerbaijan cooperates within the CIS on the basis of the interests of its member states but does not recognize the CIS and its executive bodies as having international legal personality. It does not support the creation of new organizations under the CIS or the goals of further CIS development aimed at integration and harmonization of national legislation. In diplomatic terms, this means that Azerbaijan does not share its sovereignty and prioritizes cooperation based on respect for independence and territorial integrity. And now, the results of this approach are becoming evident.
Moreover, other countries in Central Asia seem ready to follow Azerbaijan’s example. These nations are expanding cooperation with Azerbaijan, holding regular diplomatic meetings, and signaling their intention to learn from our nation-building experience. As Azerbaijan’s example shows, this can be achieved without dramatic “anti-” gestures, slammed doors, or displays of indignation.
