On April 29, a master class titled “Azerbaijan’s foreign policy toward Western countries based on the President’s speeches” was held by the teaching staff of the Department of Regional Studies on Western Countries under the Faculty of International Relations and Management (IRM) at the Azerbaijan University of Languages (AUL). The event was attended by the Dean of the IRM Faculty, Prof. I. Kazimbeyli, Deputy Deans Assoc. Prof. N. Karimov and Assoc. Prof. A. Abbasov, Head of the Department Prof. S. Aliyeva, as well as faculty members and students from groups 382 (American Studies), 383 (International Relations of Middle and South America), and 388 (Balkan Studies).

Assoc. Prof. Nigar Asgarova provided detailed information on the concept of foreign policy, its importance as a tool of international relations, its main instruments and concepts, as well as soft and smart power. She also addressed ideas of international peace reflected in the President’s speeches. She emphasized that foreign policy is aimed at ensuring the welfare of a state’s citizens and protecting its interests in the international arena, and that an effective foreign policy requires a balanced combination of hard, soft, and smart power.

Senior Lecturer Bayim Abdulla, PhD, delivered a presentation on “Azerbaijan’s foreign policy toward Western countries: Post-war period after 2020,” noting that Azerbaijan pursued a balanced and adaptive policy until 2020, while in the post-2020 period it has adopted a more active stance, firmly defending its position. She highlighted Azerbaijan’s role as a middle power in international relations and emphasized the country’s use of soft power through international events, contributing to the formation of its global image.

Senior Lecturer Mehpare Tajdehibonab noted that Azerbaijan’s relations with Latin American countries date back to the Soviet period. Students from Group 383, Shalala Amrakhova and Asmar Alizada, presented information on the historical ties between Azerbaijan and Latin American countries. Senior Lecturer Sabina Muradova emphasized the extensive diplomatic and economic relations between Azerbaijan and the Balkan countries, while Group 388 student Turkana Sultanova provided detailed insights into agreements and diplomatic relations, particularly between Azerbaijan and Serbia. Instructor Amina Imanzade spoke about the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and South American countries and their intensification since 2010, while Group 382 student Amina Hadisova discussed the tensions in diplomatic relations between Uruguay and Azerbaijan.