Aliyev says will not reconcile with status quo on Garabagh
President Ilham Aliyev has said Azerbaijan will not reconcile with
the status quo that has shaped up in its nearly two-decade long
conflict with Armenia, calling for an unconditional withdrawal of
the Armenian occupying forces from the Azerbaijani territory.
"We cannot put up with the situation which has emerged. The status quo does not suit us, it has to change, and change fairly. Armenian occupying forces must be withdrawn from all our lands without any pre-conditions, after which peace and cooperation can be established. This is the premise of our position of principle," President Aliyev said while addressing internally displaced persons in the western Gabala district on Saturday.
20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory, including Upper Garabagh and seven adjacent districts, has been under Armenian occupation since the two South Caucasus republics signed a precarious cease-fire in 1994 following a lengthy war. Over a decade of efforts by US, Russian and French mediators have been fruitless so far.
"We want our legal historical lands recognized by the international community as Azerbaijani lands to be returned, and for you, our citizens, to go back there," the president said.
Aliyev noted that, on one hand, Azerbaijan is being urged to pursue a strictly peaceful solution of the conflict, and Baku favors that option, but "no one should forget that the Armenians invaded those territories not peacefully, but by military means, with the support of other countries." "Azerbaijani citizens, the new generation, should always remember that," he said.
"If the Armenians did this by force, why are we advised all the time to solve [the conflict] peacefully? No one wants war. But how long do we have to reconcile with this unbearable situation? And how long will the world community and the sides dealing with this problem adhere to such a calm stance?"
The Azerbaijani leader voiced confidence that, ultimately, the Garabagh conflict will be settled based on his country’s territorial integrity. "We just want this to happen as soon as possible, and for the Armenians to leave the occupied land on their own free will."
Another warning has lately been issued by Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev, who said the South Caucasus region would face an imminent threat of an all-out war unless Armenia ends its long-standing invasion. *
"We cannot put up with the situation which has emerged. The status quo does not suit us, it has to change, and change fairly. Armenian occupying forces must be withdrawn from all our lands without any pre-conditions, after which peace and cooperation can be established. This is the premise of our position of principle," President Aliyev said while addressing internally displaced persons in the western Gabala district on Saturday.
20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory, including Upper Garabagh and seven adjacent districts, has been under Armenian occupation since the two South Caucasus republics signed a precarious cease-fire in 1994 following a lengthy war. Over a decade of efforts by US, Russian and French mediators have been fruitless so far.
"We want our legal historical lands recognized by the international community as Azerbaijani lands to be returned, and for you, our citizens, to go back there," the president said.
Aliyev noted that, on one hand, Azerbaijan is being urged to pursue a strictly peaceful solution of the conflict, and Baku favors that option, but "no one should forget that the Armenians invaded those territories not peacefully, but by military means, with the support of other countries." "Azerbaijani citizens, the new generation, should always remember that," he said.
"If the Armenians did this by force, why are we advised all the time to solve [the conflict] peacefully? No one wants war. But how long do we have to reconcile with this unbearable situation? And how long will the world community and the sides dealing with this problem adhere to such a calm stance?"
The Azerbaijani leader voiced confidence that, ultimately, the Garabagh conflict will be settled based on his country’s territorial integrity. "We just want this to happen as soon as possible, and for the Armenians to leave the occupied land on their own free will."
Another warning has lately been issued by Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev, who said the South Caucasus region would face an imminent threat of an all-out war unless Armenia ends its long-standing invasion. *
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