Remarks by H.E. Mr. Tofig F. Musayev

Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations

at the Ambassadorial-level Meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission on the Peaceful Settlement of Border Disputes in Central Asia

15 December 2025

Madam Chair,

At the outset, I would like to thank you for convening this meeting upon request of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Azerbaijan’s interest in the issue under discussion is obvious. Along with its consistent and strong support for the principles of territorial integrity and inviolability of borders in international relations, as well as cultural ties and historical friendship and partnership with the countries of Central Asia, as you are aware, at the 7th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, held on 16 November 2025 in Tashkent, Azerbaijan was admitted as a full-fledged participant of this format.

In his address to the Meeting, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev underlined the uniqueness of relations between Azerbaijan and the Central Asian States and expressed his conviction that the decision to admit Azerbaijan to the Consultative Meeting would serve to strengthen cooperation and interaction between our countries and regions.

Azerbaijan welcomes the bilateral and trilateral border agreements between the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan and their strong commitment to international law, peace and mutual understanding, as well as to further strengthening political, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation.

We concur with the Secretary-General, who characterized these achievements as historic and highlighted the leadership, determination, and political will that have brought the negotiation process to a successful conclusion.  

The border agreements between Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan acquire particular significance against the background of growing security challenges worldwide caused by devastating conflicts, escalating border disputes, and deepening fragmentation.    

Secure borders are important prerequisites of stability, peace and good-neighborly relations. The corresponding principles in this respect are territorial integrity and state sovereignty, along with non-use of force and peaceful settlement of disputes.

As the International Court of Justice explained in one of its judgments, “when […] countries establish a frontier between them, one of the primary objects is to achieve stability and finality”.

We are confident that important accomplishments and strong ties among the countries of Central Asia will contribute to strengthening their partnership and cooperation and consolidating peace in the region.

Thank you.