Aliyev says peace remains possible at global media forum in Shusha

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev told a global media forum in Shusha on Monday that peace remains achievable, even as he pointed to instability in regions around his country. Speaking at the Shusha Global Media Forum, he said: "We believe peace is possible." His remarks came as he addressed an audience of international media professionals gathered in the city. Aliyev linked the discussion to wider regional developments, saying that conflict elsewhere had increased the importance of transport and connectivity routes through Azerbaijan.

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He said the situation in the Middle East had made one corridor "more attractive," and argued that the country's role as a transit route was becoming more significant. He also said Azerbaijan had started supplying natural gas to Germany and Austria this year as part of a broader plan to expand exports across Europe. According to Aliyev, Azerbaijan now supplies pipeline gas to 16 countries, including 14 in Europe, and negotiations are continuing with additional European Union member states.

He said future growth in gas production would depend on long-term contracts and investment in infrastructure. He warned that producers need certainty before committing to major expansion, saying that without it, they could be left without a market for additional output. The comments underline Azerbaijan's growing importance in European energy supply at a time when governments are seeking to diversify sources and secure long-term deliveries.

They also reflect the country's effort to position itself as a key transport and energy corridor between regions affected by conflict and shifting trade routes. Aliyev's remarks on peace and international law were framed against that backdrop, with the president saying lasting stability must be "just and fair" and based on international law. He also referred to the war in the Middle East, saying Azerbaijan hoped the latest escalation would be short-lived.

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Drawing on Azerbaijan's own experience, he said peace should not be shaped by ambition or political agendas, but by legal principles and restraint. His comments suggest that Baku is seeking to present itself both as a regional energy partner and as a voice for de-escalation in a volatile neighbourhood. What remains unclear is how quickly any of the negotiations with additional EU member states may progress, or whether the current regional tensions will alter Azerbaijan's transport and energy plans.

It is also not clear how far the forum's political messaging will translate into concrete diplomatic or commercial outcomes. For now, Aliyev's remarks point to a strategy built around connectivity, energy exports and a call for stability in surrounding conflicts.

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