Subsequent events related to the full restoration of Azerbaijan's sovereignty, Armenia's European integration aspirations, and the circumstances surrounding this process necessitate a rethinking of the South Caucasus by both analysts and government officials, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said at the opening ceremony of the 4th Shusha [i.e. Shushi] Global Media Forum, entitled "The Mission of the Media in Promoting Peace: Restoring Truth and Rebuilding Trust," Report.az informs.

The Azerbaijani president noted that the South Caucasus has changed dramatically in recent years. He stated that the impetus for these large-scale transformations was the Second Karabakh War, which altered many of the region's previously considered established and virtually unchangeable realities.

"Without constant contacts and an understanding of the current situation, this will be very difficult, because previous methodologies for understanding the South Caucasus are completely outdated. It is a completely different region than it was five years ago," stated Aliyev.

The Azerbaijani head of state noted that new centers of power and often conflicting aspirations have emerged in the region. These trends have now become more noticeable, although specialists with a long history of studying the South Caucasus could have observed them before, he said.

According to the Azerbaijani president, working in the South Caucasus presents a complex task for any external player, as the region is not yet consolidated and integrated politically, economically, or in terms of transportation. These processes are only in their early stages.

Ilham Aliyev stated that he conveyed corresponding signals to his European colleagues when the Western community demonstrated a clear bias toward Armenia.

"When Armenia began to be portrayed as practically the region's main transport hub, this, of course, caused great confusion. A country with no experience whatsoever as a transit country is suddenly being declared the main transport hub. It's completely unclear what such assessments are based on," the Azerbaijani leader said.

He noted that this imbalance was due to political motives and attempts to attract Armenia to their side.

The Azerbaijani president said that all parties should abandon this approach and stop viewing the South Caucasus as an arena of geopolitical confrontation.

"Now, I think, our neighbors should do the same, not in words, but in deeds," Aliyev stated.

According to him, all parties genuinely interested in peace and cooperation in the South Caucasus should build relations with all states in the region.

Aliyev called for an objective assessment of the economic, political, military, demographic, and other potential of each state in the region.

“Only then will the priorities be set correctly, and will further disappointment over 'betting on the wrong person' be avoided,” the Azerbaijani president added.