MP: Nakhchivan holds special place in Azerbaijan's future strategy

Nakhchivan holds a special place not only in Azerbaijan's statehood history, but also in its future strategy, MP Elnara Akimova told Report.

According to her, President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Nakhchivan on August 11 was an important event that went beyond an ordinary working visit and clearly demonstrated both Nakhchivan's future development model and Azerbaijan's regional geopolitical and economic strategy.

"The projects presented during the visit, the messages given, the presentation of battle flags to military units and the broad interview given to Azerbaijan Television at the end of the day actually complemented different directions of a single concept: turning Nakhchivan into a secure, modern, economically strong strategic center that connects Azerbaijan more closely with the Turkic world," she said.

"Nakhchivan's future should be ensured not only through budget and social projects, but also through production, investment, exports, new technologies and sustainable employment. The Industrial Park is an important platform serving precisely this goal," Akimova said.

She added that the president's review of new electric buses in Nakhchivan and his familiarization with reconstruction work on railway infrastructure show that transport and an environmental approach are being brought to the forefront in the region's development.

According to the MP, this is not merely the renewal of urban transport. The introduction of electric transport, modernization of the railway and expansion of future logistics opportunities are key elements of Nakhchivan's new economic model.

Akimova said President Ilham Aliyev's familiarization with the Master Plan for the development of Nakhchivan city until 2044 shows that the issue is being approached from a broader perspective.

"This is not a strategy for several years, but an urban development strategy calculated for decades. Nakhchivan's development as a modern city, the expansion of its tourism opportunities, the improvement of the transport system, and the development of residential and social infrastructure should be based on a unity of modernity and the preservation of the ancient city's historical image," she said.

The MP noted that steps related to cultural heritage also formed a separate spiritual line of the visit.

According to her, familiarization with restoration work at the Momina Khatun Mausoleum and the unveiling of the monument to Ajami Nakhchivani highlighted not only Nakhchivan's economic and strategic importance, but also its unique place in Azerbaijan's statehood and cultural history.

She said preserving the legacy of a great architect such as Ajami Nakhchivani and protecting the Momina Khatun Mausoleum mean passing on the stone memory of Azerbaijani history to future generations.

Akimova added that the military aspect of the visit also carried an important message.

"The presentation of battle flags to the newly created commando military units in the Separate Combined Arms Army once again confirmed Nakhchivan's special role in Azerbaijan's security system. Although Nakhchivan is geographically separate from Azerbaijan's main territory, it can never be considered separately in terms of national security. On the contrary, today's Nakhchivan is a strategic fortress guaranteed by a strong army, modern military capabilities and high combat readiness," she said.

According to the MP, the visit once again showed that Nakhchivan holds a special place in Azerbaijan"s future strategy, just as it does in the country's statehood history.

"If in the most difficult years of the last century this ancient land was protected by the political will of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the heroism of the people of Nakhchivan, today a completely new historical mission stands before this land," Akimova said.

She noted that Nakhchivan is no longer only a protected border area, but one of the important pillars of a major geopolitical bridge connecting Azerbaijan with the Turkic world, Türkiye with Central Asia, and the East with the West.

"In this sense, the message sent to the world from President Ilham Aliyev's visit is extremely clear: Azerbaijan determines its own future, builds its own roads and is not a passive observer in shaping regional realities, but one of the main initiating states," the MP said.

Akimova added that every foundation laid, every facility opened and every battle flag presented in Nakhchivan are separate expressions of Azerbaijan's major goals for the new century.

"This goal is not only a developing Nakhchivan, but also a stronger Azerbaijan and the future of a changing South Caucasus," she said.