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Nakhchivan, East Zangezur and Karabakh are becoming a single space -OPINION

30 May 2025 12:54 (UTC +04:00)

Two days ago, on Azerbaijan’s Independence Day, the Lachin International Airport was inaugurated with the participation of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Milli Majlis (Parliament), during today’s parliamentary session, APA reports.

Azerbaijan advances toward new national goals

The Speaker noted that the Lachin International Airport is the third international airport built in the liberated territories: "The opening of an airport in this strategically vital area is an extremely significant event, demonstrating that Azerbaijan—having secured its territorial integrity and sovereignty—is confidently moving toward new national goals. The participation of the leader of brotherly Türkiye at the inauguration once again proved the unshakable nature of the strategic alliance between Azerbaijan and Türkiye. On Independence Day, the Azerbaijan-Türkiye-Pakistan Summit was also held in Lachin. This meeting was another manifestation of the strategic unity of three friendly and brotherly nations that share common values. It is safe to say that the decisions made at this Summit will mark a new stage in cooperation between these countries across various fields."

Strategic road from the Umid Bridge to the Lachin Summit

Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, Zahid Oruj, stated that just as the Umid Bridge, built in 1992 through the initiative and direct involvement of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and with the support of brotherly Türkiye, played a crucial role in ensuring the military-political security and economic survival of blockaded Nakhchivan, today, the trilateral summit of three heads of state held in liberated Lachin serves similarly far-sighted strategic purposes.

Azerbaijan’s independence is more real today

Zahid Oruc emphasized that in the past 100 years of Azerbaijan's history, the country's state independence has never been as genuine and tangible as it is today.

Ilham Aliyev brings the spirit of the Republic to the regions

"Unlike the Republic that was brought from Ganja to Baku at that time, now Ilham Aliyev is taking our victorious state from the capital to the regions. Ilham Aliyev is fulfilling the dreams of leaders 100 years ago who did not have the opportunity to carry out the May 28 Revolution and spread the tricolor flag throughout their territory, and is reversing the decisions of the Soviets that separated Nakhchivan from mainland Azerbaijan by ceding Western Zangezur to Armenia."

A New Stage: Liberated lands are turning into political and military strongholds

Neither Rasulzade, nor Narimanov, nor any of the state figures who came after them were able to bring a Turkish or global leader to Zangilan, Shusha, or Lachin. But the President is now granting new political status to the liberated lands, turning them into strategic military heights and defensive fortresses, preparing the guarantee that they will never again be subjected to occupation.

Geopolitics and expansion: National power in a unified space

On January 7, the President stated that both Karabakh and East Zangezur, and at the same time, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, which is not so far from it, should become a single space in terms of economy, social, green energy, and security, while these are three regions in our geography. There is a rule in geopolitics: after geographical expansion, political and economic expansion must inevitably follow. We are not afflicted by the disease of building an empire or seizing other territories. However, the opening of the gas pipeline from Igdır, along with the Zangilan, Lachin, and Shusha Summits, all serve the same purpose — to reconnect Nakhchivan with Azerbaijan and to carry forward our Victory.

The Lachin Summit is a symbol of solidarity in the Islamic world

Member of Parliament Rizvan Nabiyev stated that Azerbaijan, the country that established the first parliamentary republic in the Muslim East, celebrated the 107th anniversary of this achievement together with the major powers of the Islamic world — Türkiye and Pakistan:

Platform of brotherhood: Strategic infrastructure in Lachin

“The leaders of Türkiye and Pakistan, who have strengthened their positions on current regional developments, met with Victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev at the Lachin Summit. Lachin, along with the entirety of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, is being built in line with President Ilham Aliyev’s strategic vision and through our state’s financial resources. Given its geostrategic location, the infrastructure being created in Lachin serves a dual purpose — it is both civilian and a means to ensure our national defense and security.”

Shared values and a regional power center

The MP also noted that amid growing geopolitical challenges, the creation of alliances based on shared values and regional cooperation is becoming increasingly relevant: “The power of the Azerbaijan–Türkiye tandem in ensuring peace and stability is now further strengthened by the involvement of Pakistan.”