MP: New realities open fresh opportunities for Nakhchivan

As a result of National Leader Heydar Aliyev's special attention and care for Nakhchivan and President Ilham Aliyev's consistent and purposeful continuation of this policy in line with the requirements of the new era, Nakhchivan has now entered a completely new stage of development, MP Sabina Salmanova told Report.

According to her, Nakhchivan, an ancient and integral part of Azerbaijan, has played an important role in the country's political, economic and cultural life throughout history.

"The fate and development of this ancient land have always been closely linked to the most important pages of our statehood history. Nakhchivan is one of the key pillars of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, national statehood will and geopolitical interests. In this regard, each visit by President Ilham Aliyev to Nakhchivan is of special importance in terms of defining specific directions of state policy, implementing important projects and clarifying the region's future development prospects," she said.

Salmanova noted that the head of state has always kept Nakhchivan's socio-economic progress and full integration into the country's overall development system in focus.

President Ilham Aliyev has visited the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic 17 times so far. During these visits, he took part in the opening of numerous social, economic and infrastructure facilities and gave important instructions on the region's future development.

According to the MP, this fact clearly demonstrates Nakhchivan's special place in state policy.

Salmanova said Azerbaijan created new realities in the South Caucasus with its historic Victory in the 44-day Patriotic War and the full restoration of its territorial integrity and sovereignty in September 2023.

"These realities also open completely new opportunities for Nakhchivan. Azerbaijan's military-political Victory not only ensured the restoration of our territorial integrity, but also changed the geopolitical and geoeconomic landscape of the region. Today, Azerbaijan acts as one of the initiators and main actors in shaping the new realities," she said.

The MP noted that transport and communication projects are one of the important directions of this strategy.

According to her, in the modern world, transport corridors are not only routes for the movement of cargo and passengers. They are also strategic tools that increase states' economic potential, political weight and opportunities for regional integration.

Salmanova said Nakhchivan's geographical position has historically given it major strategic advantages.

"Its location on the border with Türkiye and Iran, its proximity to other territories of Azerbaijan and its position on historical trade routes have made Nakhchivan an important economic and communication space for centuries. However, the blockade that emerged in recent decades created serious obstacles to the full realization of these opportunities. In the coming stage, the situation will change. New transport links will create conditions for Nakhchivan to become more actively integrated into the regional trade and logistics system," she said.

The MP noted that one of the important features of the policy implemented under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev is the transformation of military-political victory into lasting peace and economic development.

"The thesis that President Ilham Aliyev won both the war and the peace is an expression of this reality. The Victory achieved on the battlefield restored Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty. The new realities formed on the diplomatic plane created the basis for opening communications in the region, advancing the peace agenda and expanding economic cooperation," she said.

Salmanova also emphasized that Nakhchivan's future development is an integral part of Azerbaijan's overall economic and transport strategy.

"The projects to be implemented here will increase not only the transit and logistics potential of the autonomous republic, but also that of Azerbaijan as a whole. Most importantly, Nakhchivan is no longer a geographical space left aside. On the contrary, it is becoming one of the key elements of the South Caucasus's new transport and communication map," the MP said.

According to Salmanova, the strengthening of the direct connection between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, the expansion of cooperation with Iran, the restoration of communications with Armenia in conditions of peace, and the development of East-West routes will further increase Nakhchivan's strategic importance.

She added that this process will make an important contribution to strengthening Azerbaijan's regional position, forming an environment of lasting peace and cooperation in the South Caucasus, and developing new trade routes across the Eurasian space.