Baku: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has expressed concerns over the impact of the Armenian occupation on the development of the South Caucasus region. Addressing an international forum titled ‘Facing the New World Order’, President Aliyev highlighted the setbacks caused by the occupation on regional integration.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Aliyev remarked that the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territory prevented the South Caucasus from evolving into a more integrated region. He emphasized that the region had the potential for development in areas such as economic cooperation, transportation routes, and energy security. However, aggression and the resulting challenges faced by the Azerbaijani people hindered this progress.
President Aliyev pointed out the successful relationship between Azerbaijan and Georgia as an example of what could have been achieved. He noted that energy security, transportation, political dialogue, investments, and economic benefits are evident in the cooperation between the two nations. He argued that Armenia’s actions not only affected Azerbaijan but also deprived Armenia of opportunities to become a significant transit country for energy resources and transportation routes.