Organized by Azerbaijan’s Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center), an event on the theme "New Geopolitical Realities in the South Caucasus: Azerbaijan and the Peace Agenda," was held in Baku.

The event was organized as part of the final stage of the Center's article competition.

During the event, moderated by Sultan Zahidov, AIR Center’s Leading Advisor, Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Center for the Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center), highlighted the importance of the article competitions.

“A new geopolitical reality is taking shape in the South Caucasus and Azerbaijan is directly playing a leadership role in this process. The Azerbaijani state is the chief architect of this emerging regional reality,” the AIR Center Chairman said.

“Azerbaijan's expectations regarding the normalization process and the peace agenda with Armenia have not changed and will not change. The Azerbaijani leadership's vision on this issue is clear and unambiguous. The position of the ruling party in Armenia is generally aimed at continuing the normalization and peace agenda. However, the course of Armenia's foreign policy in the long run will not be determined only by the current political leadership. In five or ten years, different political forces and different leaders may come to power in Armenia. That is why it is crucial for Armenian society to clearly express its stance for a sustainable and irreversible peace,” Shafiyev added.

Matin Mammadli, Head of the AIR Center Department, underlined that scientific and analytical thinking plays an important role in shaping a state’s foreign policy. He underscored that the regional security architecture is rapidly changing, with geopolitical realities emerging.

Azerbaijani MP Rizvan Nabiyev stated that it was Azerbaijan, which had established the peace platform in the region, adding that this approach, initiated by President Ilham Aliyev, was later reflected in the political agenda of the Pashinyan government.

Then, the winners of the article competition were awarded.

According to the results of the competition, Narmin Ismayilova's research on the topic "The Washington Declaration of Peace as an Important Stage on the Path to Regional Peace and Cooperation" won the first place. Nazrin Gasimova's research on "Political, Economic and Social Consequences of the 2020 Patriotic War and 2023 Anti-Terror Measures for the South Caucasus" awarded the 2nd place, and Aysel Samedova's research on "Connectivity as a Peace Strategy: The Zangezur Corridor and the Transformation of Regional Geopolitics in the South Caucasus" took the 3rd place.

The primary objective of the AIR Center’s article competitions, which have already become a tradition, is to encourage the improvement of the scientific training of young researchers on topics relevant to the country's strategic agenda, as well as to provide a platform for interactive exchange of ideas between academic circles, public and media representatives.