Aliyev: Azerbaijan appears as island of stability in unstable region

President Ilham Aliyev said that a look at Azerbaijan's foreign policy, economic indicators and activity in global energy and transport markets shows that the country's role has grown greatly.

He made the remarks in a speech at the VII World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue. Aliyev noted more than 2,000 registered participants and over 500 guests from more than 100 countries. He said the forum, held every two years, has become one of the most effective platforms for addressing intercultural relations over the past 15 years, and thanked its partners and the UN Alliance of Civilizations.

Aliyev described Azerbaijan as a cultural bridge between Europe and Asia, citing multiculturalism and religious and ethnic tolerance as foundations of stable development. He said the country had marked the 35th anniversary of the restoration of its independence, and that the 2020 Second Karabakh war and a 2023 anti-terror operation had ended the occupation. Azerbaijan then proposed peace to Armenia, he added.