President Ilham Aliyev’s interview with Al Arabiya TV widely covered by international media

The views expressed by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in his interview with Saudi Arabia’s Al Arabiya television channel have been widely covered by leading media outlets in a number of countries.

The reports highlighted the Azerbaijani President’s remarks on the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, the historical and political significance of the Washington meeting, Azerbaijan-Russia relations, as well as a number of other topical issues.

Leading Turkish media outlets, including Anadolu Agency, Haber Türk, Haber Global, TRT Avaz, Hürriyet, Yeni Şafak, Yirmidördtv, Ahaber, Haber.tr, Haber7, Ekonomim, Yeni Akit and others, focused particularly on President Ilham Aliyev’s comments regarding the opening of the Zangezur corridor, resolving tensions between Syria and Israel, and Türkiye’s role on the global stage. The reports conveyed to millions of readers the President’s position on the importance of the Zangezur corridor for the entire region, giving special emphasis to his statement: “The Zangezur corridor will not only be an East-West transport corridor but also a North-South transport corridor.” The Turkish media also covered President Aliyev’s views on other pressing global issues, including developments in the Middle East.

Kazakhstan’s “Inbusiness.kz,” “Tengrinews.kz,” “Newtimes.kz,” “Inform.kz” and other outlets mainly highlighted President Aliyev’s remarks regarding the crash of an AZAL aircraft near Aktau. Citing the head of state, the reports noted that the downing of an Azerbaijani civilian plane by Russian forces and the subsequent reaction of Russian officials had caused great disappointment and discontent in Azerbaijan. President Aliyev was quoted as saying: “It was only thanks to the professionalism and courage of the pilots that the plane was able to land. Fortunately, the plane landed in Kazakhstan and not in Russia.”

“Arbatmedia.kz” drew attention to the President’s comments on Azerbaijan’s plans to supply gas to the Middle East, quoting him as saying: “Undoubtedly, entering the Middle Eastern market with our natural resources is a first experience for us.” The report also reflected his views on Azerbaijan’s potential to increase gas supplies to Syria and provide gas to other countries through the Arab Gas Pipeline or other swap operations.

Ukraine’s leading media outlets, including RBK-Ukraine, Korrespondent, Gordon, Obozrevatel and others, published articles featuring President Aliyev’s views on a range of topics. Citing the Azerbaijani leader, they reported that as a country that has suffered from violations of its territorial integrity, Azerbaijan supports the territorial integrity of all states. From the first days of the Russia-Ukraine war, Azerbaijan has supported and continues to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

The articles also highlighted the President’s views on the Zangezur corridor, noting that Azerbaijan had lost part of its territory due to Soviet policies. It was pointed out that in 1920, the Soviet Union took Western Zangezur from Azerbaijan and handed it over to Armenia, leaving the Nakhchivan region as an enclave. Ukrainian media also reflected President Aliyev’s comments on his visit to Washington and meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Russia’s TASS news agency reported on President Aliyev’s remarks regarding the significance of the agreement reached between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the importance of the Zangezur corridor. The reports emphasized the President’s view that the Washington agreement was crucial for both sides in terms of recognizing territorial integrity. He also warned that if Armenia were to withdraw from the agreements, there would be serious consequences and Azerbaijan would respond accordingly. The Azerbaijani leader further underlined the potential of the Zangezur corridor, stressing that the new route would benefit the region’s countries in the North-South direction, allowing Azerbaijan, Russia, and Iran to take advantage of the project.

Interfax highlighted President Aliyev’s statement on the importance of the peace agreement initialed between Azerbaijan and Armenia with the support of U.S. President Donald Trump, noting that the Washington meeting marked the end of the war and opened completely new opportunities for the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Middle East. The agency also reported the President’s remarks that Russia bore responsibility for the deterioration of Azerbaijan-Russia relations. In this context, he drew attention to the downing of the AZAL aircraft, the unprovoked attacks on Azerbaijanis in Russia, while stressing that Azerbaijan had acted constructively and lawfully.

Georgia’s prominent media outlets and portals, including interpressnews.ge, palitranews.ge, aktual.ge, resonancedaily.com, 24news.ge, and the TV channel 1tv.ge, prepared reports based on the President’s interview. They widely covered his views on U.S. President Donald Trump’s political course, peace policy, the activities of the “deep state,” the Zangezur corridor, statements by the President of Iran, as well as the downing of the Azerbaijani aircraft.

Bulgaria’s largest online news portal “Novini,” along with “Blitz” and “Actualno,” published President Aliyev’s remarks on Azerbaijan-Russia relations and the AZAL aircraft incident. The reports also cited his comments that the occupation of Azerbaijan by the Russian army in 1920 led to the fall of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, and the transfer of Azerbaijan’s historical lands — Western Zangezur — to Armenia divided Azerbaijan into two parts.

Romania’s “Adevarsıcuraj.ro” also paid attention to President Aliyev’s statements on Azerbaijan-Russia relations. The article reflected his remarks that Soviet Russia’s occupation of Azerbaijan in 1920 hindered the development of the country as a democratic republic and, soon after the occupation, handed over Western Zangezur to Armenia, turning Nakhchivan into an enclave.