On November 5, 2025, a roundtable discussion dedicated to the “Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty,” as well as an award ceremony for the winners of the competition announced on this topic, was held at the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center).

In his opening speech, Chairman of the Board of the AIR Center, Farid Shafiyev, spoke about the significance of the first Constitution of independent Azerbaijan, which was prepared under the leadership of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and adopted through a nationwide referendum on November 12, 1995. He emphasized that today, our Constitution is fully operational across all the sovereign territories of our independent state.

Farid Shafiyev underscored the significance of enhancing awareness of the key priorities of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy and the pressing issues of the international agenda. He also elaborated on the specific initiatives implemented by the Center in this direction. Farid Shafiyev noted that the AIR Center regularly organizes internship programs for young experts, further adding that applications for participation in these programs are also received from foreign countries.

In his speech,Head of the Department of Political Science and Philosophy at Khazar University, Orkhan Valiyev, addressed the evolving concept of sovereignty in the modern era. He noted that the notion of national sovereignty is no longer confined solely to physical borders but is increasingly reflected in the domains of artificial intelligence and technological development. Emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation, Orkhan Valiyev drew attention to President Ilham Aliyev’s remarks during his inauguration ceremony regarding the significance of the Organization of Turkic States for Azerbaijan, as well as to the strategic importance of Azerbaijan’s active engagement in other regional platforms.

AIR Center's leading advisor Sultan Zahidov stated that the Constitution serves as the fundamental basis of the state’s national sovereignty. He emphasized the crucial role of the Constitution of Azerbaijan in the process of state-building and the development of civil society. Addressing the factors that contributed to Azerbaijan’s victory in the Second Karabakh War, Sultan Zahidov underlined that not only did Azerbaijan put an end to the occupation but also laid the foundations for sustainable peace in the region. He further highlighted the significance of the resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council and the General Assembly, Azerbaijan’s active participation in international platforms, and the achievements attained at the Washington Summit.

Within the framework of the event, the winners of the article competition dedicated to the “Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty,” organized by the AIR Center in August of this year, were awarded. The winners of the competition Nuray Suleymanova, Suleyman Zeynalli, and Rahil Dadashli delivered presentations about their analyses.