News

Held in December 2023, the 5th ADA University Policy Forum “Karabakh: Back Home After 30 Years. Accomplishments and Challenges” brought together over 60 international experts, policymakers, and thought leaders to engage in in-depth discussions on the post-conflict recovery of Karabakh. The Forum featured a keynote address by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Ilham Aliyev, highlighting national efforts in reconstruction and reintegration.

Participants had the opportunity to visit the smart village of Aghali in the Zangilan district and witness the progress on the ground. The discussions centered on the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs), the development of liberated territories, and the prospects for sustainable peace and cooperation in the region.

Co-organized by ADA University and the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center), the Forum served as a dynamic platform for dialogue, strategic vision sharing, and collaboration among local and international stakeholders.

President Ilham Aliyev: 

“First of all, I'd like to express gratitude to Rector Hafiz Pashayev for the invitation. It's not the first time I participate in the ADA University Forum. Actually, I think, I didn't miss any of them. Last time, we met with a group of international experts in Shusha this May. I'm glad that this time you visited another liberated region of Azerbaijan, Zangilan, and witnessed the process of resettlement and reconstruction. I consider these kinds of gatherings very useful for me, because during this interaction we discuss many important issues. I also understand better what the questions are in the international expert community with respect to recent developments in our region.

Because situation in the region is changing. To a large degree, the initiator of the changes is Azerbaijan. This is natural, because we needed to fully restore our sovereignty over internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan. We wanted to do it peacefully, the same way like we wanted to find a peaceful solution to conflict with Armenia for almost thirty years. But, unfortunately, it was not possible due to many reasons, which we already discussed broadly during our previous meetings.

Full transcription of the Forum is available here.