Azerbaijan-Turkey tensions and Karabakh reconstruction

An Azerbaijani parliamentary working group has expressed serious concern regarding biased information campaigns in Turkish media and social networks. The group specifically addressed unfounded accusations made by certain members of Turkey’s Justice and Development Party and Oktay Saral, a chief advisor to the Turkish President.

While reaffirming the ‘one nation, two states’ strategic alliance, the group emphasized that Azerbaijan is a sovereign state that determines its own internal and external policies. They rejected attempts to interfere in domestic affairs or dictate political and ideological views, particularly regarding Azerbaijan’s secular state structure and educational policies.

In the context of regional stability, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has described a peace agreement with Azerbaijan as the ‘cornerstone’ of Armenia’s stability. However, negotiations face hurdles as Azerbaijan has demanded changes to the Armenian Constitution and the removal of references to the Declaration of Independence as conditions for the treaty.

Parallel to these diplomatic developments, Azerbaijan is advancing large-scale reconstruction and economic initiatives in Karabakh and East Zangezur. During the 6th International ‘Rebuild Karabakh’ exhibition, President Ilham Aliyev reported that 25.5 billion manat has been allocated from the state budget for these efforts. To date, over 300,000 hectares have been cleared of mines, and approximately 40,000 people have returned to 47 residential areas.

Economic transformation efforts include a proposed desalination plant in the Caspian Sea led by a consortium including Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power, aimed at producing 300,000 cubic meters of drinking water daily. Additionally, the Ministry of Economy is implementing digital and green transition roadmaps for 18 local enterprises, while Italy has expressed readiness to provide engineering expertise for infrastructure projects.