In his address, President Aliyev emphasized the longstanding strategic partnership between Italy and Azerbaijan. “Italy and Azerbaijan have been working as strategic partners for many years, with a declaration formalizing our cooperation nearly a decade ago. Our collaboration spans various areas, and we maintain regular political contacts,” he 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.”
