On July 19, during a meeting with participants of the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev discussed a wide range of topics, including the Zangezur corridor, the investigation into a downed passenger jet, and the post-war return of displaced persons.

President Aliyev estimated the initial capacity of the Zangezur corridor at 15 million tons of cargo and noted that Azerbaijan is nearly completing the railway construction connecting its borders with Armenia and Iran, anticipating the Azerbaijani section could be finished by spring of next year. He warned that if Armenia continues to block the opening of the corridor, its chances of becoming a transit country would diminish to nearly zero, leading to deeper transport and political isolation.

Addressing the crash of an Embraer 190 passenger aircraft belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines near Aktau, Kazakhstan, Aliyev expressed frustration that Russian officials have not responded to inquiries seven months after the incident. He stated that Azerbaijan knows the cause, has evidence implicating Russia, and is preparing to take the case to the international judicial system, calling for Russia to accept responsibility, punish those involved, and compensate victims.

On the economic front, Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijan’s strong performance, citing a reduction in foreign debt to 6.9% of GDP and a poverty decline from 49% to 5%. He also reported progress in the return of displaced people to liberated territories in Karabakh and East Zangezur, noting recent returns to two villages in the Khojaly district, bringing the total to 18 resettled communities under the "Great Return" program.

President Aliyev expressed gratitude to US President Donald Trump for his mediation efforts toward peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. He also commented on the situation in New Caledonia, calling it a historical precedent and the beginning of a broader movement against neo-colonialism. Lastly, the President of Azerbaijan urged Ukrainians to "never accept occupation," drawing parallels with Azerbaijan's own history and stating that his country created a "new reality" in 2020 that the world was forced to accept.