00:00Hello and welcome to Eurasia Talks from Davos and I'm delighted to be joined today by Azerbaijan's
00:09President Mr. Ilham Elieff. Thank you so much for joining us today. It's wonderful to see you.
00:16As you join world leaders here in Davos, we are at this moment witnessing a fundamental
00:21reassessment of the existing international system. Now you've warned about this shift before.
00:28How does your country engage with this changing world order and what is your message to world
00:34leaders? Actually, as you mentioned, we've been facing a situation when international law norms
00:41were not obligatory for all the actors of international community. Therefore, our strategic
00:50goal was to achieve results based on our national interest and with all respect to international
01:00law do what we thought was right. And everything what we've done, whether it's political development
01:07or restoration of our sovereignty and territorial integrity, was in line with international law
01:14and common values. So today, as you mentioned, international relations are entering the new era,
01:23era where it is not the rule of law, but the rule of strength is ruling the situation. We can see it in
01:33different parts of the world. Therefore, it once again signals that every country should base the strategy and
01:42policy on their potential, establish good relations with as many countries as possible, first in your
01:50region and second on a global scale. Amid the historic peace deal in Armenia, the South Caucasus is evolving
01:57fast in a global context, you know, after decades of competing interests, influences and shifting
02:03alliances. How do you assess the current balance between risk and opportunity in the region?
02:11Today, Southern Caucasus also enters a new stage of development. We live in peace only for five,
02:19six months. We are learning to do it. We never lived in peace in all our independent history.
02:25And it's a special feeling. And of course, it's a great opportunity. Today,
02:31relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan are already evolving into a cooperation.
02:41Yeah.
02:41We lifted all the restrictions on cargo transportation to Armenia. Moreover, we started to supply critical
02:49commodities to Armenia, primarily oil products, which the country is largely dependent on.
02:55And it's a win-win situation. So I think that by joint efforts of Armenia and Azerbaijan,
03:03including the civil society, we will achieve not long lasting peace, but peace forever in the
03:13Caucasus. This is our goal.
03:15We hope so. Yes. With Iran as your neighbor, I want also mention, how is Azerbaijan engaging with
03:22the evolving crisis that we are seeing the evolving crisis that we are seeing there? And what is your
03:25assessment of its impact of stability across Eurasia, also including the energy markets?
03:34Every country, including Azerbaijan, should think about stability around its borders, beyond its borders.
03:42With respect to Azerbaijan, we do not have any potential risks inside the country. All
03:50the potential risks can come from outside. Therefore, for us, stability in our neighborhood is
03:58something which we always think about. And we've been concerned about some destabilization
04:05in Iran. And for us, stability, predictability and peace in the region is the biggest asset. We suffered
04:14from occupation, from war, from losing thousands of victims. And today, stability and security for
04:24every country is the only way to succeed. With respect to energy market, as you see today, oil price is
04:33stable. It is at the appropriate level, at least for Azerbaijan. And it demonstrates that
04:42situation in Iran, situation in Venezuela and in other parts of the world do not seriously influence
04:51the price of oil. And this is a good sign because producers and consumers, they need to know
04:59the predictability of the situation in order to plan their future. So I hope that situation
05:06in the Southern Caucasus and around it will not deteriorate.
05:11Where do you feel that the South Caucasus sit in terms of being an emerging force in the energy
05:18sector and moving in towards the EU as well?
05:21With respect to energy sector, Azerbaijan is the only country in the Southern Caucasus which
05:27has energy resources and exports them to other countries of the Southern Caucasus import energy
05:35resources from Azerbaijan. Georgia for many years and now Armenia. And with respect to Europe and European
05:44Union, our energy cooperation is growing. We already supply natural gas to 16 countries and 10 of them are members of European
05:57Union Union. So by this coverage, by geographical coverage of supply of pipeline gas, Azerbaijan is number one in the world.
06:05We have resources, we have transportation system, modern pipelines. We have good relations with many European countries. And for them, it's a way to strengthen the energy security. For us, it's an opportunity to sell our resources on the premium market.
06:26How do you feel and how do you react to this constant criticism of Azerbaijan from the EU parliament?
06:34Well, we do not react any longer. We stopped reacting. We did react in the past. But of course, it's so obvious that this bias situation to Azerbaijan is generated by special lobbying groups, by special forces, which cannot digest Azerbaijan's independent policy.
06:57So we actually, for many years, for many years already stopped any cooperation with European parliament and also with the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe.
07:09We cooperate with European Commission. And for us, it is enough. But I think European Parliament puts itself in a very awkward situation, accusing us of what we have never done, including so-called our aggressive position towards Armenia, while Armenia itself appreciates the relationship with Azerbaijan.
07:33And last August, the peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan was initialed in the White House. So I hope that members of European Parliament will find the courage to reconsider their unfair policy towards Azerbaijan.
07:50Mr. Mr. President, always a pleasure talking to you. Thank you for joining us on Euronews this morning.
07:54Thank you for invitation.
07:55Thank you.
07:56Thank you.
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