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Aliyev Outlines Foreign Policy Achievements at YAP Congress
Baku, Azerbaijan — President Ilham Aliyev addressed the 8th Congress of the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) on October 3, 2026, asserting that Azerbaijan has established a unique position in international diplomacy by hosting representatives from nations hostile to one another.
Speaking at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, where 960 delegates elected from district and city organizations were present, Aliyev described the country's foreign policy strategy as maintaining contact with "many countries and, one could say, all major poles" while defending its own interests without joining any specific camp.
"As I have said, our steps regarding foreign policy are received with great appreciation in the world. Our prestige is growing," Aliyev told the delegates. He added that it would be difficult to find a second country that builds such multifaceted international relations as Azerbaijan, calling the approach a "unique experience."
To illustrate this diplomatic capacity, the president pointed to recent events. "It is enough to recall the events of just the past month for everyone to see that high-ranking representatives of countries hostile to each other meet in Azerbaijan within the framework of international events," he said.
The remarks were part of a broader assessment of Azerbaijan's expanding geopolitical footprint. Aliyev noted that despite being geographically located in the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan was admitted as a full member of the Consultative Meetings of Central Asia in November of the previous year.
Strategic Positioning and Regional Integration
The admission to the Consultative Meetings of Central Asia marked a significant shift in how Azerbaijan positions itself within broader regional frameworks. By securing full membership status, the administration highlighted its ability to transcend traditional geographic classifications, effectively bridging the South Caucasus with Central Asian political structures.
This move was presented not merely as an administrative update but as evidence of the country's growing influence. The president framed this integration as a natural extension of Azerbaijan's independent foreign policy, which seeks to engage with multiple geopolitical centers simultaneously.
The 8th Congress of the New Azerbaijan Party served as the platform for these statements, which emphasized the administration's focus on independent diplomatic engagement. The event brought together party officials to review political developments and outline future directions under Aliyev's leadership.
During his speech, Aliyev did not specify which countries or individuals were involved in the recent meetings he referenced. He framed the presence of rival nations' representatives as evidence of Azerbaijan's growing international prestige and its ability to facilitate high-level dialogue within the framework of international events.
The president's comments at the YAP congress underscored the government's narrative of Azerbaijan as a neutral hub for diplomacy, distinct from traditional geopolitical alignments. The admission to the Consultative Meetings of Central Asia was cited as a key milestone in this effort, bridging regional divides despite the country's location in the South Caucasus.
The congress concluded with Aliyev reiterating that Azerbaijan's foreign policy steps continue to gain appreciation globally, reinforcing the administration's stance on maintaining independent relations with all major international poles.
