Ilham Aliyev addresses 7th CICA Summit in Baku

On 15 October, the 7th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) was held in Baku. President Ilham Aliyev welcomed the heads of state and government attending the event. Member states approved the agenda and admitted Laos as a full member. Aliyev said the move reflected CICA's growing importance as an inclusive dialogue platform in Asia.

Speaking as current CICA chair, Aliyev said Azerbaijan's 2024 chairmanship had received unanimous support. He said Azerbaijan pursues an independent foreign policy based on equality and non-interference, and opposes double standards in resolving interstate conflicts.

Aliyev said about 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognised territory had been occupied by Armenia for 30 years. He said the 44-day Homeland War of 2020 ended with Armenia's capitulation on 10 November 2020, and that Armenian forces in Karabakh were defeated within less than a day in September 2023.