Hikmat Hajiyev: The European Union’s intentions remain unclear
Prague, June 14, AZERTAC
“When we launched the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway project, European and American funds refused to finance it. So, we decided to implement it using our own resources – and we did,” said Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, during a panel discussion at the GLOBSEC Forum 2025 in Prague.
Hajiyev emphasized that sustainable trade and transport connectivity in the region requires cooperation and partnership. “We have investment capacity and are working closely with our brotherly and partner countries in the region,” he noted.
He added that Azerbaijan has connected all major transport infrastructure to Central Asian countries. “Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye are fulfilling their regional roles and expanding ties with Central Asia. China and Kyrgyzstan are currently building a new 900-kilometer railway, which will provide a shorter route to Central Asia. Through the Caspian, we are connecting all these processes together,” he explained.
“My question is: where is the European Union? Yes, you are welcome to join us as a partner, but it is still not clear what exactly the EU wants. We have yet to see that clarity,” Hajiyev underlined.
Ayten Abbasli
Special correspondent
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