President Ilham Aliyev gave an interview to Azerbaijani journalists in Munich

On February 13, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev gave an interview to Azerbaijani television channels in Munich.

This was reported by Azertaj.

REAL TV channel: Mr. President, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. What will be Azerbaijan's message at this year's Munich Security Conference?

President Ilham Aliyev: As always, our message is aimed at cooperation and peace. For the first time, I am participating in this event as the head of a state that has achieved peace. Of course, this issue will probably be on the agenda here. Therefore, our messages, as always, are completely open and clear – cooperation, peace, partnership. Naturally, also Azerbaijan's growing role in the field of security, our capabilities, as well as economic development, energy security, transport, connectivity, artificial intelligence – that is, all these issues today form the main global agenda. Therefore, Azerbaijan is not lagging behind in these areas either.

Public Television: Mr. President, is the signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia expected this year?

President Ilham Aliyev: You know that this does not depend on us. Our position has been conveyed to the Armenian side for many years: necessary changes must be made to the Constitution of Armenia. As soon as these changes are made, we can sign a peace treaty the very next day. But at the same time, I believe that peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan has already been achieved. The agreements reached at the Washington summit, including the signed Joint Declaration and the initialing of the peace treaty, de facto mean the establishment of peace. Its formal side depends on Armenia. The sooner changes are made to the Constitution and territorial claims to Azerbaijan are removed from it, the faster the peace treaty will be signed.

AnewZ TV channel: Everyone we spoke with today talked about how the old world order is collapsing and a new world is about to emerge, but it has not yet emerged. Just a few weeks ago in Davos, you signed the founding Charter of the Peace Council, of which Azerbaijan is one of the founders. And in a few weeks, there will be another meeting in Washington. What is your opinion about this organization as a potential element of the new world order?

President Ilham Aliyev: If you remember, I have already said that international law no longer works. Perhaps I did not speak in detail, but in general. And many countries simply ignored it. Relying solely on international law is not enough to solve one's problems. And Azerbaijan's example truly demonstrates this. Thus, the emergence of a new world order or a new system of intergovernmental relations definitely had to happen. The only question was who would take responsibility to make this step. And I believe that President Trump did a great job by initiating the creation of the Peace Council – an institution that has a great future.

Of course, everything will depend on the agenda. As you know, the first summit will take place soon. Everyone is interested in what the agenda of the summit will be and what its results will be. But more and more countries are already understanding that they need to reconsider their approach to intergovernmental relations, security, and the functioning of international institutions. We see that the United Nations is completely paralyzed. It cannot influence any issue. And there is no alternative. Therefore, I hope we will see more common sense in working together. Since the new world order should not mean that might makes right. The new world order should mean new mechanisms for a civilized world, relations, and international order.

CBC TV channel: Mr. President, according to the Munich Security Conference program, your participation in a panel session dedicated to transport corridors is expected tomorrow. What role does Azerbaijan see for itself in the formation of transport corridors between Europe and Asia?

President Ilham Aliyev: We have long been initiators of creating corridors, starting with energy ones, continuing with transport ones, and now also electrical and fiber optic ones. Therefore, as the potential of our country strengthens and international connections develop, we add new elements to the existing concept of connectivity.

If we can consider oil and gas pipelines as an already accomplished fact, although there is a need to expand our gas transportation infrastructure, if we consider that issues related to railway communication have been partially resolved, and Azerbaijan does not experience particular difficulties either in ensuring transit transportation or in exporting its products, although the Zangezur corridor will be an additional contribution to this – then issues related to electrical cables, fiber optic cables, with transportation and transit of information as a result of data center activities and artificial intelligence – all this is now what we are specifically working on.

We have many advantages: geography, close ties with neighbors both in the West and in the East, surplus of electricity, trained personnel, and many other advantages. Therefore, today Azerbaijan is a country that is needed both in the East and in the West. Given that the country has ensured its security and sovereignty by its own forces, naturally, the international authority of our country has grown even more. Therefore, when we talk about corridors, of course, we must look at this issue more broadly: not only railway, not only highway, but everything that contributes to connectivity and meets the requirements of the modern world. Thank you.