“GEGHARD”
SCIENTIFIC ANALYTICAL
FOUNDATION
2026
2026
2024-05-15
On May 10, the Azerbaijani media published the speech delivered by Aliyev which showcases the evident aspirations of the current Azerbaijani authorities to appropriate and eradicate Armenian identity and presence in the occupied territories.
Particularly, Aliyev said, “…since 2003, I did everything in my power to return you and all the former IDPs to your native land. We were preparing and strengthening our country, we were strengthening our economy and creating a strong army. Most importantly, we have raised and brought up the young generation who liberated Shusha, our source of pride today, and other occupied lands at the cost of their lives. We have raised an educated, knowledgeable, patriotic, physically strong, morally healthy and pure young generation, and they liberated these lands by putting their lives on the line for 44 days on my order. We are very much indebted to them for this day, we are indebted to our glorious Army, we are indebted to our Armed Forces, we are indebted to our martyrs and disabled veterans.”
In his speech, the leader of Azerbaijan does not conceal his hatred towards Armenians. For nearly two decades, Ilham Aliyev has been preparing the Azerbaijani society for a bloody conflict, disregarding all international efforts and interstate relations aimed at resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict in recent decades. The Azerbaijani leader openly demonstrates his persistent incitement of war and his direct initiation of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflicts, including the Four-Day War of 2016, the 44-Day War of 2020, and the September War of 2023, resulting in the complete depopulation of Artsakh.
“The people of Azerbaijan have demonstrated such heroism and self-sacrifice that, today the whole world talks about the sons of Azerbaijan and shows respect for our nation. Because we have restored our right not through negotiations, not at the expense of any concessions from someone, but on the battlefield. We have liberated our cities and villages, we have shed blood and we have had martyrs. All the people of Azerbaijan were as united as a fist for 44 days,” Aliyev said.
In his address, Aliyev emphasizes that shedding blood and "resolving" the conflict through war without negotiations constitute their "achievements" and "heroism". He diminishes the efforts of the international community, which could have resolved the conflict had Azerbaijan acted in accordance with civilized and democratic values.
“The contemptible enemy had committed a miscalculation. They were so convinced of their own myths that they thought they would be able to keeps our lands under occupation forever. Their patrons behind them, the great states further reinforced this confidence in them. But we were sure, we knew that the day would come and we would return to our native lands,” the Azerbaijani dictator proclaimed.
The Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agenda is becoming elusive, as the Aliyev regime pursues its hostile policy. The horization of the killer of an Armenian is not a novel thing. Azerbaijan tries to convince the world as if it wants peace, yet propagates the opposite for domestic audience.
“...For many years as President, I tried to resolve this issue through negotiations. My activity is obvious, dozens, perhaps even hundreds of meetings and rounds of negotiations were held. But there was no result. Why? Because Armenia, I want to say this again, wanted to keep our lands under occupation forever. The countries behind them, the alleged mediators wanted to make this occupation permanent,” Aliyev continued.
It is important to draw the attention of major powers to the fact that Azerbaijan not only denies their efforts, but also directly blames them for not resolving the conflict.
The Azerbaijani policy of belittling, humiliating and dehumanizing the opponent continues with full momentum. By humiliating the Armenian soldiers in his speech, Aliyev aims to nurture the enmity of the Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples and prevent them from finding a dialogue.
“The 44-day Patriotic War is part of our glorious history, and the people of Azerbaijan will forever be proud of this Victory. For 44 days, we were moving forward every single day. Unlike the Armenian army, not a single soldier of ours left the battlefield. According to their own confessions, they had about 12,000 deserters. Our soldiers and officers advanced every day. The victory achieved on the first day of the war, the liberation of several villages, continued all the way until the last day, and the liberation of Shusha on November 8, 2020 broke the enemy’s back,” Aliyev said.
In his address, Aliyev mentions the construction and "renovation" works carried out in Shushi immediately after the 44-day war, accusing Armenians of cultural vandalism. However, it is evident to the entire world and documented through videos that after the seizure of Shushi, Azerbaijan not only destroys Shushi itself but also the Armenian historical and cultural heritage sites in the occupied territories. During the 44-day war, the Ghazanchetsots church was shelled twice. Moreover, Azerbaijani forces demolished the Church of St. Hovhannes the Baptist, also known as the Green Chapel, along with Shushi's old cemetry.
The museums and their collections in Shushi have been confiscated, and their fate remains unknown.
In his message, Aliyev issues a clear threat to the Republic of Armenia, asserting that failure to comply with his "orders" will reignite warfare. The international community must constrain the adventurous leader of Azerbaijan, as such policies pose a threat not only to the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia but also to the stability in the entire region.
Photo by Nerses Matinyan