The Diplomat
Last Wednesday, 20 September (a momentous date, when in 1994 Azerbaijan initiated the signing of the “Contract of the Century” under the leadership of its National Leader, Heydar Aliyev), the Embassy of this Caucasian country held at the headquarters of Cremades&Calvo-Sotelo a round table dedicated to the role of Azerbaijan in the context of geopolitics, energy and connectivity.
The event brought together distinguished speakers, industry experts, academics, policy makers and diplomats from various countries. Their collective experience and diverse perspectives provided a comprehensive analysis of the geopolitical landscape, energy security challenges and the potential for enhancing connectivity in the wider European region.
The event was moderated by Eliana Bejarano, associate lawyer at Cremades&Calvo-Sotelo and former legal and political advisor to the Senate of the Republic of Colombia.
Following presentations by Ambassador Farid Shafiyev, President of the International Relations Analysis Center (AIR Center), and Dr. Harold Bertot Triana, Professor of International Public Law at the UNIE University in Madrid, an interesting debate ensued. The audience welcomed remarks on Azerbaijan’s changing role in shaping regional dynamics, especially in relation to energy and connectivity, as well as the importance of green and alternative energies.
Participants shared views on Azerbaijan’s strategic position as a major energy player, its contributions to energy security and its efforts to diversify energy sources and routes. Speakers stressed the importance of Azerbaijan’s energy resources “in ensuring the stability of Europe’s energy security and fostering cooperation between countries”. In particular, the European Union’s (EU) energy policies, especially in the area of diversification of its energy supplies, provoked a significant exchange of views among the participants.
Discussions delved into the geopolitical implications of EU energy policies, exploring Azerbaijan’s role as a key energy supplier and transit country. Participants examined the strategic partnerships Azerbaijan has established with neighbouring countries and European partners, as well as its efforts to promote regional integration through energy infrastructure projects.
Connectivity emerged as a central theme throughout the event, focusing on Azerbaijan’s ambitious initiatives to improve transport and trade networks. Speakers highlighted the importance of Azerbaijan’s geographical location in facilitating regional connectivity, and underlined the country’s commitment to fostering economic cooperation and promoting sustainable development.
During the question and answer session, participants raised questions regarding the current status of the normalisation process of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations, as well as the latest developments on the ground. In his response, Ambassador Shafiyev spoke of the inevitability of the dissolution of the “puppet regime that threatens the rule of law in the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan, while Russian peacekeepers are temporarily dislocated.” Shafiyev noted “the importance of constructive engagement of the international community and its support for the peace agenda, rather than expressing unfounded claims against Azerbaijan.
In his answers, the AIR Centre President mentioned that “Azerbaijan has launched local anti-terrorist measures to prevent possible large-scale provocations, to ensure the implementation of the provisions of the Trilateral Declaration, including the disarmament and withdrawal of the units of the Armenian armed forces from the territories of Azerbaijan, the neutralisation of their military infrastructure, and to ensure the safety of the civilian population, personnel involved in reconstruction work in the area, and to restore the constitutional order of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The anti-terrorist measures were directed exclusively against illegal military formations and military infrastructure. The civilian population and facilities have not been targeted at any time. Taking into account the appeal of the representatives of the Armenian residents of the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan through the Russian peacekeeping contingent, an agreement on a full ceasefire was reached and the local anti-terrorist measures were stopped and it was decided to hold a meeting with the representatives of the Armenian residents living in the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan.”
