Friendship for One Million Euros: Aliyev Invites Italian Companies to Occupied Territories

The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has invited Italian companies to engage in activities within the occupied territories. This promising initiative was mentioned during a video conference meeting with a delegation led by Fabrizio Di Amato, the president of the Italian Maire Tecnimont Group, as reported by Turan.

"Italy and Azerbaijan are strategic partners. A document on strategic partnership has been signed, and reality shows that we are indeed strategic partners," said Aliyev. He expressed hope that Italian companies would be very active in projects related to the reconstruction of the ‘liberated territories.’ Several Italian companies have already been invited to carry out reconstruction and construction work.

Although discussions in Azerbaijan focus on the participation of Italian companies in the restoration of ‘liberated’ areas, it is evident that they are referring to the occupied Armenian lands, primarily the ancient Armenian city of Shushi, designated as the 'cultural capital of Azerbaijan and the entire Turkic world.' In an apparent effort to erase traces of Armenian cultural heritage, Aliyev has opted to involve foreign companies in this criminal barbaric activity.

Indeed, Azerbaijan-Italy relations are so profound that Italy is considered almost Azerbaijan’s strategic partner in Europe. This is evidenced by numerous agreements, contracts, forums, and declarations. Not long ago, Italy invited the blood-stained Azerbaijan to the G-20 summit, without concern for maintaining the principle of equality by inviting Armenia as well.

Of course, the Italian side emphasizes the political component of the relationship. Nevertheless, as Vladimir Lenin once said, politics is the concentrated expression of economics. In other words, Azerbaijan seems to be merely buying Italy's ‘friendship.’ For instance, for one million euros, by sponsoring excavations in Rome. The sponsorship agreement was signed on July 15, 2014, between former Mayor of Rome Ignazio Marino and President Ilham Aliyev.

Or it could simply be bribery. Recently, Luca Volonte, a former member of the Italian Parliament and the European Parliament, known for his love of black caviar, Azerbaijani carpets, and oil dollars, was sentenced to four years in prison for corruption. According to the Italian news agency La Repubblica, the court found that Volonte had abused his official powers by receiving half a million euros from two Azerbaijani politicians. Volonte received the bribe to obstruct the adoption of a PACE report regarding political prisoners in Azerbaijan in 2013. Investigations indicated he was promised 10 million euros for this, of which he managed to receive 2.4 million (with half a million successfully proven in percentage terms).

Certainly, Italy has certain benefits. However, the descendants of Caesars and Ciceros should be more discerning in ‘friendly’ relations. As exemplified by Luca Volonte's case, the descendants of nomads do not seem to know how to be accountable for their words.