BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 26. Azerbaijan has
created the conditions to advance regional projects even in the
face of those who are hindering progress in the South Caucasus.
This was stated by security expert and political analyst Farid
Bakhshaliyev in the latest episode of the Baku Network’s analytical
video series “Dialogue with Tofig Abbasov.”
“If, due to their haphazard thinking and destructive outbursts,
they try to distance themselves from processes that benefit
absolutely all parties, that is their choice. No one intends to
wait for them,” the expert said, commenting on Armenia’s
position.
According to him, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham
Aliyev has made it clear to everyone hoping to revise the status
quo: the matter is closed, and historical decisions have been made.
Bakhshaliyev emphasized that today, no fundamental regional
decision, whether it be the “North-South” corridor, the Middle
Corridor, or the “East-West” route, is being made in a way that
circumvents Azerbaijan’s national interests. Speaking about delays,
he pointed to Iran’s stalling of construction on the Astara–Rasht
railway section, calling it an internal matter for Iran.
The analyst discussed Yerevan’s foreign policy in detail. “If
Yerevan believes it can, depending on the situation, turn toward
Europe and promote its interests while simultaneously turning its
back on Russia, then this is a dangerous imbalance that they
themselves must correct,” he noted.
The expert also took a critical view of the presence of European
Union observers at the border. “When a state allows foreign
military contingents and missions, as well as EU observers with
binoculars, to be stationed on its territory, it clearly indicates
that national interests have been pushed to the background,”
Bakhshaliyev stated.
In his view, the delay in signing a peace treaty hurts Armenia
itself the most. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan is successfully cooperating
with Central Asia, engaging in dialogue with all major power
centers, and remains, as a matter of principle, a non-aligned
state.
“It’s time for our neighbors to realize that security and
economic development are not built on grants and external
dependence. No one will ever take perpetual beggars seriously,” the
analyst said.
The second part of the conversation focused on information
security. According to Bakhshaliyev, only well-trained specialists
who are diligent about double-checking facts are capable of
countering orchestrated information campaigns.
“Any disinformation campaign has a purpose. We need to uncover
the motive: who stands to gain and why it’s being done,” the expert
emphasized.
Here is the full video recording of the program for our readers’
attention:
