Journalists from all over the world come to Shusha. You feel that a new name for Shusha has begun to form in the political and media lexicon of the world. Now Shusha is completely different, it is the address of global dialogue. Yesterday, Shusha, which was under occupation, is today the embodiment of victory, construction, and international cooperation.
We lived with a longing for Shusha for almost thirty years. We all waited for that news one day...
That day came. On November 8, 2020, President Ilham Aliyev addressed the nation. That address was the most unforgettable speech in Azerbaijan's 500-year history. On that day, millions of people could not hold back their tears of joy. Shusha was free, the heart of Karabakh had reunited with its owner.
A few days later, President Ilham Aliyev came to Shusha. At that moment, the words spoken by the President, “Dear Shusha, you are free! Dear Shusha, we have returned!” became history.
These words of the President were the final point of thirty years of longing. It was the expression of the will of the Azerbaijani state, the greatest report given to the souls of the martyrs. From that moment, Shusha's new life began.
Shusha's mission also changed. Before the occupation, Shusha was the cultural capital of Azerbaijan. After liberation, it became a meeting place for international politics, diplomacy, culture, and media.
The first big message of this was given in June 2021. The presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkey met in Shusha. In front of the world, two brotherly countries signed the Shusha Declaration. The declaration was a manifesto of a new geopolitical era.
The Shusha Declaration elevated Azerbaijan-Turkey relations to a higher stage than strategic alliance. The security architecture of the region gained new content. Leading political centers of the world carefully analyzed this document. A new reality emerged in the South Caucasus. The name of that reality was Azerbaijan, and its center was Shusha.
From that day, the concept of “Global Shusha” began to form. Before this, Shusha was more of a city of Azerbaijan. After the Shusha Declaration, it began to appear on the agenda of world politics. The most influential media organizations in the world prepared reports from Shusha. International analytical centers wrote new reports about Karabakh. Foreign diplomats began to visit Shusha.
Previously, news about Shusha was related to occupation, destruction, and losses. Now, the news talks about construction, international events, and cooperation. The difference is the result of a consistent state policy.
President Ilham Aliyev did not just set the goal of restoring Shusha. He chose the strategy of turning Shusha into an international center.
Looking back today, we see that these steps form a chain. First came Victory, then free Shusha. Then the Shusha Declaration, the idea of Global Shusha appeared...
In fact, all of these are very big events connected to each other. These were stages of a unified state strategy. That is why today, when we look at Shusha, we do not just see an ancient city. There is also Azerbaijan's policy calculated for the future.
We are at the beginning of the road. Shusha still has a lot to say to the world. The globalization of Shusha did not begin with one document and did not end with one event. Every international event further increased the prestige of this city. Thus, the concept of Global Shusha gained real content.
Shusha's next great success was its declaration as the cultural capital of the Turkic world. For centuries, Shusha has been one of the strongest centers of Turkic culture. Great Azerbaijani artists grew up in this city. Shusha's music, poetry, and art created an entire school of culture. This historical truth was once again confirmed at the international level.
Following this, Shusha regained its cultural breath. The “Kharibulbul” Music Festival returned to its homeland. Vagif Poetry Days once again awakened the spirit of Jidir Plain. Artists from various countries of the world came to Shusha. This time, Karabakh was known not for destruction, but for music. The voice of Shusha spread to the world again.
Shusha's path was not limited to culture alone. This city also became an important meeting place for international politics. Presidents and government representatives of foreign countries made visits to Shusha. They witnessed the extensive construction work carried out here.
International conferences held in Shusha also demonstrated the city's growing prestige. Experts on various topics gathered. Humanitarian issues and prospects for regional cooperation were evaluated. Intercultural dialogue was promoted. Shusha became the address for the exchange of ideas.
One of the most important directions of this process is media diplomacy. Shusha Global Media Forums gained international prestige in a short time. Leading media organizations of the world came to Karabakh precisely through this platform. Foreign journalists conveyed the new realities of Karabakh to their audiences.
Today, the fourth Shusha Global Media Forum is being held. The theme of the forum is “The Mission of Media in Promoting Peace: Restoring Truth and Rebuilding Trust.” Of course, the topic was not chosen by chance. In the modern era, information is also one of the important tools for peace. Accurate news creates trust. Trust, in turn, is considered one of the main conditions for lasting peace.
The forum brings together media representatives from various countries of the world. Information agencies, television executives, and representatives of international organizations will exchange ideas. Shusha once again becomes the center of global dialogue.
In parallel, international events are also held in other cities of Karabakh. This is an indicator of the stability created by Azerbaijan in the region. Karabakh is now accepted as a place of cooperation.
All these events can be viewed separately. But when they are evaluated as a chain, a larger picture emerges. First, Victory was achieved. Then Shusha was liberated. Then the Shusha Declaration was signed. Later, the city became the cultural capital of the Turkic world. Then international festivals were restored. Then global media forums were held. Visits of foreign leaders began. Representatives of the Azerbaijani diaspora came to Shusha.
Today, Shusha carries a greater mission than Shusha before the occupation. Shusha is a historical city, and also a meeting place for international politics and cultures. Shusha is a platform for media diplomacy. It is one of Azerbaijan's windows to the world.
We journalists are going to Shusha to once again be eyewitnesses to a great historical process. We will be in the same place with our colleagues from different countries of the world. We will discuss the new realities of Karabakh together.
For the fourth time, journalists from various countries of the world are meeting in Shusha. This fact itself explains a lot. A city that once came to the agenda with war news is now talking about peace, dialogue, and cooperation. This is the new reality created by Azerbaijan.
For me, Shusha's greatest success is in building its future while preserving its history. Shusha opens up to the world without losing its identity, and becomes an international platform while preserving national values.
Shusha's new name is Global Shusha precisely for this reason. Because this city is in the focus of the whole world. Decisions made here, events held, and ideas expressed are of international importance. Shusha presents its name to the world together with the name of Azerbaijan. Today, when we look at Shusha, we see the hopes of the future. That is why it can be said with certainty that Global Shusha is the reality of today.
Elnur AMIROV
