Aliyev says Azerbaijan itself ensured peace in the region

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said that the country restored its territorial integrity thanks to a strong economy, a powerful army, a high patriotic spirit, and its ability to break out of international isolation. The head of state made the remarks during a meeting with residents of the city of Zangilan.

According to Aliyev, Azerbaijan came under serious pressure during the Second Garabagh War, but that pressure produced no results.

“We expelled the enemy from our lands and restored our territorial integrity. Before that, we built a strong economy, created a powerful army, strengthened the patriotic spirit in society, and effectively managed to lead Azerbaijan out of international isolation. During the Second Garabagh War, despite all the pressure exerted on us, it produced no result, although there were quite a few who wanted to stop us,” the president noted.

The head of state stressed that among those who tried to stop Azerbaijan were the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. According to him, these were not ordinary states, but nuclear powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council.

“Each of these countries wanted to stop us for its own reasons. Throughout the 44 days, pressure was repeatedly exerted on us. Look at who we were facing. Each of them was doing everything possible to make the occupation permanent, to use it as a tool, and ultimately to prevent the Azerbaijani people from breathing freely,” Aliyev said.

The president noted that continuing the struggle to the very end required firm will and the support of the people.

“For us, it was a matter of ‘to be or not to be,’ and we were never going to retreat from our path. The support of the people was necessary, and it was there. Our entire nation united as one fist. This gave me strength. We had no intention of stopping until the very end — until the liberation of Shusha,” the head of state said.

Aliyev also stated that today Azerbaijan lives in conditions of peace and is itself the author of this peace.

“If we had not wanted this, there would be no peace. If we had wished, we could have conducted military operations anywhere,” the president stressed.

According to him, Armenia’s leadership and the forces standing behind it understand the balance of power in the region.

“No matter how much support they provide to Armenia, they know they have no chance against our strength. If they truly had the power, they would have helped Armenia back in 2020,” Aliyev noted.

The head of state also said that there are still forces in Armenia’s political circles driven by hatred toward the Azerbaijani people and state.

“If they come to power, it is the Armenian people who will suffer,” the president said.

Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan liberated its lands at the cost of blood and sacrifice, paying tribute to the memory of the martyrs and highly praising the heroism of the servicemen.

“We demonstrated will, professionalism, high moral qualities, and dignity both on the battlefield and in the political arena. That is precisely why respect for Azerbaijan today has perhaps increased tenfold compared to previous years,” President Ilham Aliyev said.