At the World Economic Forum’s “Defining Eurasia’s Economic Identity” panel on 20 January 2026, leaders from Azerbaijan, Armenia and Serbia discussed how the South Caucasus and wider Eurasian region can strengthen economic ties, peace and geopolitical stability amid shifting global influence.
Among the participants of the session were Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, Armenia’s President Vahagn Khachaturyan and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, alongside business and policy representatives.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev underscored the historic nature of the peace process with Armenia, describing the 2025 Joint Declaration signed in Washington as a landmark achievement that brought an end to more than three decades of conflict.
"It was a historical achievement last August when two countries initialed a peace agreement, thus putting an end to three decades plus of war and bloodshed," the Azerbaijani President said.
He stressed the uniqueness of the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace deal since it was signed less than in two years after the last clash.
President Aliyev highlighted that peace is beginning to translate into practical economic cooperation, with strategic cargo, including petroleum products, now moving from Azerbaijan to Armenia, and that Armenia has requested transit through Azerbaijan to Russia, signalling expanding trade links.
He also stressed the importance of national responsibility in global affairs.
“We should no longer rely on international institutions… However, I do not share… pessimistic views. Because if we bring the situation under control and take sufficient responsibility regarding our national interests, then the success of the peoples is possible.”
President Ilham Aliyev emphasised Azerbaijan’s political sovereignty and diversified partnerships, noting agreements with ten EU states, a comprehensive strategic partnership with China, and discussions on a strategic charter with the United States.
President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan also welcomed the normalisation progress, stressing that the current situation is unprecedented.
“Peace is not a normal situation for us… we are living in a situation we have not seen for more than 30 years," he said.
President Khachaturyan described existing cargo transport via Georgia as a symbol of evolving cooperation and said that direct transport links between Baku and Yerevan will help overcome problems that arose in the 1990s, enhancing regional economic integration.
He expressed confidence that, in the future, Armenia will be able to receive cargo from Azerbaijan directly via local railways.
Serbian President Vučić added that smaller states in Eurasia must work together to protect their sovereignty while building influence, calling Azerbaijan and Armenia “friendly countries” and advocating cooperation on innovation, AI and defence.
Panel discussions also touched on the strategic role of the South Caucasus as a bridge between Europe and Asia and the importance of transport connectivity and economic integration in shaping Eurasia’s identity in an increasingly multipolar world.
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U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will “soon be reviewing” a new 14-point proposal sent by Iran, casting doubt on the chances of a deal after Tehran called for security guarantees, an end to naval blockades and a halt to the war across the region, including in Lebanon.
Ukraine has launched a new wave of drone strikes on Sunday (3 May) across Russia, hitting key infrastructure and causing casualties in several regions, officials on both sides said.
China has moved to block U.S. sanctions on five of its oil refineries, in a fresh escalation of tensions over trade and energy policy.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has been taken to hospital in Iran after what her family described as a “catastrophic deterioration” in her health, including a severe cardiac crisis.
Minval Politika has released further footage it says shows former International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo discussing alleged funding behind campaigns linked to Armenia and Azerbaijan.
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters he was "not satisfied" with Iran's latest peace proposal, which was delivered to Washington via Pakistani mediators on Friday (1 May).
President Trump has issued a warning to the international community, claiming a nuclear-armed Iran would strike Israel "very quickly" before targeting Europe and the United States.
Ukraine is monitoring “unusual activity” along its border with Belarus, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video statement released on Saturday (2 May). He warned that Kyiv is ready to respond if necessary amid continued regional tensions linked to Russia’s war.
Hundreds of young people in South Korea have gathered in Seoul to take part in a city-backed “power nap contest”, aimed at drawing attention to the country’s chronic sleep deprivation.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has been taken to hospital in Iran after what her family described as a “catastrophic deterioration” in her health, including a severe cardiac crisis.
President Donald Trump has said the United States could restart strikes on Iran “if they misbehave”, as he waits to review the full details of a new proposal from Tehran.
Tourism across Central Asia is expanding rapidly, with millions of visitors arriving each year as the region becomes an increasingly competitive global travel destination, though growth rates vary significantly between countries.
Baku will host the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) from 17 to 22 May, bringing together around 25,000 participants from 176 countries to address the global housing crisis and sustainable urban development.
Türkiye’s Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz is set to visit Armenia in early May to take part in the 8th European Political Community Summit, in what will be the highest-level Turkish visit to the country to date. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is reportedly expected to miss the forum.
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