The CIS summit in Dushanbe followed the traditional format of such gatherings: an informal dinner, a closed meeting, and then a plenary session. The atmosphere was calm, businesslike, and warm — without scandals, disputes, or protocol blunders. The only mild argument occurred between Vladimir Putin and Nikol Pashinyan over the current trade turnover between Russia and Armenia: Pashinyan claimed it stood at 9 billion, while Putin insisted the figure was higher.
As usual, numerous bilateral meetings took place on the sidelines of the summit. For obvious reasons, the meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin drew the most attention. The “Russia–Central Asia” summit was also held in parallel.
The plenary session itself focused on humanitarian issues — the topic of President Aliyev’s speech. He said:
“I express my gratitude to the CIS heads of state for supporting the candidacy of Lachin city in Azerbaijan’s East Zangazur region as this year’s Cultural Capital of the CIS. In June, Lachin hosted the opening ceremony of the ‘CIS Cultural Capital Year,’ which showcased the history and cultural heritage of this ancient Azerbaijani land. Guests saw firsthand the rapid revival of Lachin after its liberation from Armenia’s 30-year occupation. A completely destroyed city has, in just a few years, become one of the most beautiful and livable places in the country,” noted the head of state.
“Another important event for the Commonwealth was the 3rd CIS Games, held from September 28 to October 8 in Azerbaijan. The ancient city of Ganja — the birthplace of the great 12th-century Azerbaijani poet and thinker Nizami Ganjavi — became the main venue. Alongside Ganja, six other Azerbaijani cities — Gabala, Goygol, Yevlakh, Mingachevir, Khankendi, and Sheki — hosted over 1,600 athletes from 13 countries, including both CIS members and guest nations.”
It is worth noting that the CIS summit coincided with the fifth anniversary of Azerbaijan’s 44-day Patriotic War — marked across the country with commemorations and events in the cities liberated during the victorious counter-offensive. On the international stage, President Aliyev continues to remind the world of the Armenian occupation and the urbicide committed by the occupiers. The fact that today the CIS Games are being held in liberated Khankendi, Ganja, Gabala, and Mingachevir — once bombed cities — and that Lachin has been named the Cultural Capital speaks volumes. Above all, it reflects the success of the Great Return program.
Another, perhaps most important, point deserves attention. The CIS, founded in the early 1990s amid the Soviet Union’s collapse, has always been viewed differently: some saw it as a tool for a “civilized divorce,” others as a potential reintegration mechanism, and still others feared it might become a new version of the USSR.
Today, much has changed. Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova have left the CIS. Within the organization, deeper integration structures have emerged — such as the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the CSTO, and the Union State of Russia and Belarus. But the most significant transformation has occurred within the member states themselves. While some still cling to old Soviet-era ties and frameworks, others — first and foremost Azerbaijan — are confidently diversifying their foreign policy.
Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, highlighted a telling fact:
“Only in the first decade of October, President Ilham Aliyev participated in three different summits in three diverse geographies and formats.
1–2 October – EPC, Copenhagen. Meetings and discussions with the EU and other partner European countries.
6–7 October – Summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Gabala. Solidarity and unity of the Turkic World.
9–10 October – CIS Summit in Dushanbe.
The participation of President Ilham Aliyev in three summits within only the last ten days is a manifestation of Azerbaijan’s multi-dimensional and multi-regional foreign policy deriving from the variable geopolitical identities of Azerbaijan.”
This makes one thing clear: Azerbaijan is conducting foreign policy on a level that many other CIS countries can only aspire to. The process of “differentiation” within the CIS will continue. But while some still dream of diversifying their foreign relations, Azerbaijan has already made it a reality.
One could, in theory, debate whether Azerbaijan still needs a format like the CIS. Yet, in practice, the organization remains a useful platform for bilateral meetings and humanitarian discussions. Leaving the CIS would amount to a loud political demarche — one with a clear political cost but little real benefit. Especially considering that Azerbaijan does not participate in any integration projects requiring supranational structures. For Baku, the CIS is simply another arena for pragmatic cooperation — and this diplomacy has proven fully effective.
A. Shakur
Translated from minval.az
