EN
AZ
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, participated via video link in the 8th Summit of the European Political Community (EPC), held in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, on May 4, 2026, and delivered an extensive speech. The key points of the President’s address are as follows:The head of state declared that peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia has already become a reality and that a new era has begun in the region. He noted that the parties have been living in peace for nine months and are learning to coexist peacefully during this period. The speech particularly emphasized the decisive role of the joint declaration signed in Washington last August in advancing the peace process.
Ilham Aliyev sharply criticized certain European institutions, especially the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), for their biased attitude and “double standards” toward Azerbaijan. He stressed that Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity holds the same value as the territorial integrity of any other country and that discrimination in this matter is unacceptable.
The President also announced that, following the establishment of peace, Azerbaijan had unilaterally lifted all transit restrictions imposed on Armenia since the 1990s. It was noted that 12,000 tons of petroleum products had already been exported to Armenia and that cargo transportation had increased, which was assessed as a sign of growing economic integration.
In addition, Ilham Aliyev proposed that one of the EPC summit meetings planned for 2028 be hosted in Azerbaijan.
The President’s participation in this summit held in Armenia — even in a virtual format — is regarded as another important diplomatic step toward the normalization of relations between the two countries. It once again demonstrated Azerbaijan’s role as the initiator of peace in the South Caucasus and as a key actor shaping the region’s future development model.
At the same time, it was emphasized that Azerbaijan is not only an energy supplier but also a strategic partner for Europe through the Middle Corridor, serving as a global logistics hub. During the event in Yerevan, Azerbaijan’s national interests and territorial integrity were once again presented to European leaders as a “red line.”
By taking a principled stance against the biased approaches of certain international organizations, Azerbaijan demonstrated the resilience and independence of its foreign policy course.
The President’s speech is being characterized as “the beginning of a new era.” It is viewed as the logical continuation of consolidating Azerbaijan’s military victory on diplomatic and economic platforms. The region is no longer seen as a conflict zone but is increasingly transforming into a strategic partnership area contributing to Europe’s security.
Shafa Musayeva
Senior Lecturer, Department of Social Sciences
Azerbaijan State Agricultural University
Senior Lecturer, Department of Social Sciences
Azerbaijan State Agricultural University