ECO Khankendi Summit instills confidence in the ancient city’s future as a new development and peace hub in the Caucasus - COMMENTARY

The liberated territories of Karabakh and East Zangezur have embarked on a path of rapid development in a short time, becoming a focal point of global attention. These regions have now become venues for prestigious international organizations to hold their events. In recent years, Karabakh has hosted numerous international events, music festivals, and world-class sports competitions. Notably, in 2023, Shusha hosted the ECO Council of Ministers, and in 2024, the Organization of Turkic States held its first informal Summit, and this May, Lachin hosted a trilateral Summit of the leaders of Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Pakistan, all of which garnered significant global interest. The recent 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Khankendi has instilled confidence that Karabakh and East Zangezur will become new centers of development and peace in the Caucasus. The fact that the ECO Summit was held at the newly constructed Congress Center in Khankendi reflects the ongoing large-scale reconstruction and restoration efforts across all of liberated Karabakh and East Zangezur, said political commentator Aligismet Badalov in an interview with 1news.media

Badalov highlighted Azerbaijan’s consistently active participation in the ECO, noting that the country’s relations with the organization’s member states continue to develop successfully. He emphasized that, for the first time in ECO history, the COP29 conference was held in Azerbaijan, with participation from 197 countries, 70 heads of state and government, and the registration of 77,000 individuals, underscoring Azerbaijan’s rising global reputation. “Azerbaijan’s leader is known for always breaking new ground. This time was no exception: on Azerbaijan’s initiative, the first-ever ECO Week was held this year, featuring the ECO Business Forum in Shusha, the Youth Forum in Aghdam, and the Women’s Forum in Lachin,” he said. Participants in these forums witnessed the atrocities committed by Armenia during its 30-year occupation of these territories, as well as the remarkable progress achieved in a short time in the liberated areas. Badalov added that every Azerbaijani takes pride in seeing the flags of friendly, brotherly, and allied nations waving alongside the Azerbaijani flag in these territories. In this context, holding the ECO Summit in Khankendi carries special significance. Shusha’s designation as the ECO Tourism Capital for 2026 further signals that Karabakh has become a vital center for regional and international dialogue, cooperation, and partnership.

The commentator noted that Summit participants also witnessed the unprecedented brutality committed by Armenia against the Muslim world. “President Ilham Aliyev highlighted in his speech that during the occupation, Armenia razed our cities, villages, and cultural and religious monuments. Of 67 mosques, 65 were completely destroyed, and the remaining two were severely damaged, used as pig and cow stables - an insult and a sign of disrespect to Islam and Muslims worldwide. Cemeteries were vandalized, graves destroyed, and tombstones looted and taken to Armenia. The damage caused by the occupation is estimated at approximately $150 billion,” Badalov said.

He emphasized that the ECO has always stood for justice and supported Azerbaijan’s rightful cause. Last month, at the session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in Istanbul, a resolution supporting the right of return for Azerbaijanis forcibly expelled from Armenia was unanimously adopted by all 57 member states, a decision highly valued in Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev noted that this resolution, along with the “Istanbul Declaration,” affirms the right of return for Azerbaijanis expelled from present-day Armenia and condemns Armenia’s refusal to engage in dialogue with the Western Azerbaijan Community. Leaders of friendly and brotherly countries at the Summit expressed their satisfaction with meeting in Khankendi, an ancient Karabakh land, and voiced their contentment with the region’s transformation into a space of peace and development. They confidently stated that the Khankendi Summit would provide momentum toward achieving set goals and plans, elevate multilateral and practical cooperation to a new level, and contribute to the comprehensive development of relations.

“One of the memorable outcomes was the adoption of the Khankendi Communiqué as the Chair’s Summary at the conclusion of the ECO’s 17th Summit. The document highly praises the large-scale restoration and reconstruction efforts in Azerbaijan’s liberated Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions, reaffirms the right of Azerbaijanis forcibly expelled from Armenia to return to their homeland with dignity, and addresses other critical issues,” Badalov concluded.