The President of the Council of the European Union Charles Michel paid an official visit to Azerbaijan on July 18, 2021. President Ilham Aliyev received Charles Michel. After the meeting, the parties held a joint press conference. Addressing the press conference, President Ilham Aliyev touched upon the relations between the European Union and Azerbaijan and stated that the European Union is a close partner for us. The visit of the President of the Council of the European Union Charles Michel to Azerbaijan is an indicator of our partnership. Within the framework of cooperation, joint work has been done in various fields for many years. At the same time, there are very good grounds for diversification of cooperation. Charles Michel's visit to the 3 countries of the Caucasus shows the participation of Europe, the European agenda, and it fully corresponds to the agenda of our country. The European Union is the main trade partner of our country. 40 percent of our trade is with the European Union.

Noting that Azerbaijan is an important partner of Europe in terms of energy security, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that ensuring energy security is one of the main directions of cooperation. Historical achievements have been made in ensuring energy security. The completion of the Southern Gas Corridor project should be mentioned here. On the last day of last year, a truly historic event took place. The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, the fourth segment of the Southern Gas Corridor, has already been put into operation. More than 3 billion cubic meters of natural gas have been exported from Azerbaijan to the member states of the European Union, especially Italy, Greece and Bulgaria, since January 1. Of course, the volume of natural gas exported to the European market will increase. Azerbaijan has been chairing the Southern Gas Corridor Consultative Council together with the European Union for many years. The Advisory Council under the leadership of the European Union and Azerbaijan was an important factor in the successful implementation of this project. The development of the 3500-kilometer integrated pipeline system and the huge "Shah Deniz-2" gas fields is a rare experience of cooperation between countries, companies and international financial institutions. The total amount of investments invested in the Southern Gas Corridor project is more than 33 billion US dollars. At the same time, Azerbaijan has been a reliable supplier of crude oil to European consumers for 15 years. The potential of Azerbaijan as a gas supplier will increase and this will create opportunities for us as an exporter, for transit countries and for consumers. Because Azerbaijani gas is not only gas from a new route, but gas from a new source, and this makes the project a truly separate energy security project.

President Ilham Aliyev, touching on the important transport role of Azerbaijan in the Eurasian region from a geopolitical point of view, noted that huge transport infrastructure projects indicate the strategic importance of cooperation between the European Union and Azerbaijan.

After the second Karabakh war, there are new opportunities for opening all communications in the region, as reflected in the tripartite agreement dated November 10 last year. Today, new opportunities for greater cooperation have emerged. A partnership based on innovation, technological exchange and economic cooperation. Cooperation with the European Union is of strategic importance. In addition to existing relations, further impetus should be given. The partnership between the European Union and Azerbaijan is not primarily a cooperation based on financial support. The two priorities considered by the European Union - climate change and the digital revolution - should be the basis of jointly launched projects.

Speaking about the results of the second Karabakh war, President Ilham Aliyev also drew attention to the fact that Azerbaijan created a new reality in the entire region with its victory. Azerbaijan itself implemented the resolutions of the UN Security Council demanding the complete and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian troops from the territories of Azerbaijan. So now is the time to think about peace and turn the page. Opening all communications is an important issue in post-conflict settlement. Touching on the implementation of construction works in the liberated lands, President Ilham Aliyev noted that as a result of the Second Karabakh war, more companies will work in the territories liberated by Azerbaijan and there will be wider activities. Occupied territories are open for foreign investment. Here are a few areas that may be of interest to foreign investors. Another potential area for investment is agriculture and processing of agricultural products. Tourism can be an attractive area for foreign investment. According to the World Bank's "Doing Business" report, Azerbaijan ranks 28th in the world in terms of business environment, and foreign investments in Azerbaijan are properly protected.

Touching on the growing economic potential of Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan has the largest naval fleet in the Caspian region. This allows us to increase the transportation of goods from East to West and vice versa. Azeraican has recently inaugurated the Alat International Trade Port with a loading capacity of 10 million tons and the potential to increase its loading capacity to 25 million tons. This is one of the most important elements of the logistics and transport network of Azerbaijan. According to the assessment of the Davos World Economic Forum, the quality of roads in Azerbaijan ranks 24th in the world, railway services rank 11th, and airline services rank 12th. This really shows that the government of Azerbaijan has invested a lot in infrastructure. Of course, the opening of all communications in the region will give Azerbaijan the opportunity to have unimpeded access to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, which is its integral part, through the territory of Armenia.

At the same time, the construction of railways towards the border of Armenia has started. The construction of the highway towards the border of Armenia has started. It creates an opportunity for Azerbaijan to gain additional access to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, and 4 countries of the region - Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia and Turkey - provide strong support.

It was noted that there are factors preventing the establishment of sustainable peace and the development of international projects in the entire region. The most important of these factors is the terrorist and criminal policy committed by Armenia in the region. In this regard, President Ilham Aliyev stated that official Iravan is a war criminal. The destruction in the liberated areas was widely reported in the international media. During the period between the two wars, Armenians deliberately destroyed the historical, cultural and religious heritage of the Azerbaijani people in the occupied territories. A big city like Aghdam no longer exists today. There is not a single safe building there. A city like Fuzuli does not exist. Gabriel is completely destroyed. Other cities were used by Armenians for illegal settlement, which in itself is a war crime. Those cases of resettlement are known facts and confirmed by reliable sources. Buried mines make it fundamentally difficult to carry out reconstruction works in the area. Azerbaijan needs to clear and rebuild more than 10,000 square kilometers of landmines. During the Second Karabakh War, Armenia also committed other war crimes. They fired at our towns and villages with prohibited ammunition, including white phosphorous shells. This is a proven fact.

Despite all this, Azerbaijan created an unprecedented reality in the entire region with its triumphant victory. Cooperation relations for the sake of sustainable peace and prosperity of Azerbaijan are expanding even today. Each of us for the prosperity of Azerbaijan...!

Ganja Medical College: HFBKS Huseynova Shafiga Sattar gizi