On July 20, during the second Shusha Global Media Forum themed "Unmasking False Narratives: Confronting Disinformation," President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stated, "There are simply no issues that need to be addressed in bilateral relations with Russia and for quite a long time. And basically, before signing the Declaration on Allied Interaction, we resolved all issues in accordance with mutual understanding, mutual respect, and mutual interests based on the centuries-old history of relations between our peoples." Aliyev emphasized the increased intensity of high-level meetings recently, noting significant engagements with President of Russia Vladimir Putin in Moscow in April and on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit earlier this month. He mentioned that more meetings were expected to discuss numerous topics by the end of the year.

Addressing the forum, Aliyev highlighted the global significance of the COP event, calling it "the number one conference in the international arena." He pointed out that, for the first time, the event would be held in the area of the former Soviet Union, offering a unique opportunity for Azerbaijan to elevate its status. He remarked on Azerbaijan's active efforts to bridge the Global South and Global North, leveraging its four-year chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Aliyev also discussed Azerbaijan's responsibilities as the chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, particularly in addressing the legacies of colonialism. He mentioned, "Many countries of the Non-Aligned Movement suffered from colonialism in the past and sacrificed millions of lives. Some countries, like the Comoro Islands and Mayotte, are still under colonial rule. It was our obligation to help these countries to get rid of this disgusting feature of the past."

Regarding the peace process with Armenia, Aliyev expressed frustration over Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's refusal to meet in the UK. He noted the inconsistency, given that Chancellor Scholz had organized a similar meeting in Munich a few months earlier. Aliyev questioned, "If he doesn't want to talk to me, then what kind of peace are we talking about?" Aliyev provided updates on the peace agreement negotiations, stating that "about 80 to 90 percent of the text is agreed upon," but emphasized the need for Armenia to respond positively to the proposal for a joint application to the OSCE to dissolve the Minsk Group, which he deemed dysfunctional.

Aliyev underscored Azerbaijan's commitment to its interests in the Southern Caucasus, warning that ignoring them would be "a mistake, a miscalculation, and a disappointment." He expressed hope for a greater understanding of Azerbaijan's potential and role in Washington and Europe, regardless of the outcome of the presidential elections.

The President also highlighted Azerbaijan's efforts to enhance cooperation with the African Union. He mentioned establishing an embassy in Ethiopia to foster relations with African Union member countries and the benefits of Azerbaijan's chairmanship in the Non-Aligned Movement in establishing practical contacts.

Aliyev stated that Baku could not conclude a peace treaty with Yerevan as long as the Armenian Constitution referenced the Declaration of Independence, which posed a territorial threat to Azerbaijan by mentioning the unification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia. He clarified that Azerbaijan's demands to amend the Armenian constitution did not constitute interference in Armenia's internal affairs.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev addressed questions about the upcoming US presidential elections in November and Azerbaijan-US relations. Mikhail Gusman, First Deputy Director General of Russia's TASS Information Agency, remarked, "The situation in America is not so clear-cut. It was different a month ago. The situation of the Democratic Party was different. So, who would you like to be called on January 20 as the President of Azerbaijan?" In response, Aliyev noted it might not be appropriate to give an unequivocal answer to this question, emphasizing that he tried to express his views "as sincerely as possible," but due to the "concept of political culture," he could not provide a direct answer. He hinted at his preferred side, saying, "I am absolutely sure that you also know who I would prefer. I think that I am not the only person in this position in Azerbaijan. We approach this issue from our point of view," while adding that "the decision of the American people will give."Aliyev expressed his positive attitude towards the "traditional values" represented during Donald Trump's presidency, noting, "In America, during his [Trump's] rule, there were no wars in Korea, Yugoslavia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, Syria, and the list could go on. I think it should be treated with great respect and sympathy." He further elaborated on the importance of traditional values, saying, "The thesis, which is especially important for the United States in the first place and for the countries under its direct influence, is also a very clear position on traditional values. I think most Azerbaijani people not only share this position but actively promote it in practice."