BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. The
Azerbaijani Military launched a counter-offensive operation, later
referred to as the “Iron Fist”, on September 27, 2020, in response to the
large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces alongside the
frontline.
The 44-day second Karabakh struggle ended with the liberation of
Azerbaijan’s territories from almost 30-year Armenian occupation
and the restoration of territorial integrity.
Sky Information TV channel has broadcast an interview with President of
the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
Development presents the interview.
-Thanks very a lot President Aliyev for agreeing to do
his interview with Sky Information. The French President appears assured
that the truce will probably be agreed within the coming days and that you’ll
be capable of resume negotiations. How doubtless is that and on what
phrases?
-It is dependent upon the place of Armenia. Azerbaijan has all the time
been very supportive to negotiation desk, and albeit talking for
28 years for the reason that OSCE Minsk Group was established we’re concerned
in negotiations. We had hopes and nonetheless have hopes that
negotiations will result in progress, and can result in political
settlement. However sadly Armenia’s place was reverse. They
used negotiation solely as a pretext with the intention to make this course of
limitless. In different phrases, they needed all the time to seal the established order,
to maintain establishment unchanged, and to not return the territories
again which they must in line with the UN Safety Council
resolutions and in line with the essential ideas that are on the
desk, which have been elaborated by the OSCE Minsk Group. Due to this fact, I
hope that after this bitter defeat which Armenia is struggling on
the battlefield, they are going to be extra cheap, and they’ll hear
to the advises of the mediators, and will probably be honest on
negotiations desk. Negotiations ought to depart to the political
settlement, and to the liberation of the occupied territories.
-However what territories precisely are we speaking about? Are
we merely speaking about Nagorno-Karabakh or we speaking concerning the
seven occupied Azerbaijani territories that they name their
safety zone? As a result of clearly you aren’t getting all of it
again.
-Our territorial integrity is acknowledged by the entire world. All
the international locations acknowledge territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, which
consists of Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenians’ place, really was additionally a
pretext that we’re utilizing these seven areas surrounding
Nagorno-Karabakh as an excuse to occupy a safety zone. However
right this moment’s conflict exhibits that there isn’t any safety zone in trendy world.
Fashionable army tools doesn’t present safety even for lengthy
distance. The safety have to be supplied by political means.
Due to this fact, we have been all the time saying that political settlement will
present safety ensures for all-for Azerbaijanis, for
Armenians, for different nationalities who reside within the space. And the
primary ideas which Armenia rejected to assist and clearly says
how the territories are going to be returned again. Within the first
stage 5 areas of Azerbaijan that are located on the south
jap a part of Nagorno-Karabakh. Then two areas of Azerbaijan
that are located between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. Then
Azerbaijanis return to Nagorno-Karabakh. There have been 25 p.c
of Azerbaijanis in Nagorno-Karabakh their rights should even be
supplied. They usually return to the place they lived within the historic metropolis
of Shusha and different locations and we restore regular communications, we
restore people-to-people contact, and slowly and slowly I’m positive
folks will reconcile. That’s the plan of the mediators and we
assist it.
-Would you acknowledge Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence if
you’re allowed to have 25 p.c Azerbaijani inhabitants
there?
-No, no, by no means. And that has by no means been the problem on negotiation
desk. Our place was very clear, that Azerbaijan won’t ever
acknowledge Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence, as a result of it’s our historic
land. The historical past of Nagorno-Karabakh is now well-known. Second, it
is an integral a part of Azerbaijan and why ought to we give
independence to small variety of folks? Azerbaijan is a
multi-ethnic nation as virtually all of the international locations on the planet.
Nationwide minorities reside in peace and dignity in Azerbaijan and in
many international locations on the planet. Being nationwide minority doesn’t imply
that you’ve a proper for secession, have a proper for separatism.
Separatism is a giant menace to worldwide neighborhood and all of the
international locations on the planet condemn separatism. What has been accomplished
in opposition to us was separatism of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh and
army aggression of Armenia’s state in opposition to Azerbaijan which led
to the scenario which we face now. Occupation, 1,000,000 of
Azerbaijani refugees, ethnic-cleansing in opposition to Azerbaijanis,
destroyed cities and villages. Now once we are liberating our
territories, there are video about what occurred there. Every thing
is destroyed, it’s as if like Stalingrad. It’s even price than
Stalingrad after World Warfare II.
-However that’s precisely what you might be doing now to the
regional capital Stepanakert. That’s what you might be doing to Shusha
which yesterday was focused not as soon as however twice. A double hit on
the cathedral there when it was very clear that civilians and
journalists have been sheltering inside.
-That was to start with a provocation from the Armenian facet. We
by no means did that previously, we’ve got Armenian church within the middle
of Baku. You possibly can ship somebody, or once you come…
-It’s not that the Armenians focused their very own
cathedral. How can that be?
-That’s most likely their provocation with the intention to current us in
such a means however I can let you know that they’re shelling our cities. Do
that we’ve got 31 killed civilians on account of Armenian
bombardment? 170 wounded folks and greater than 1 thousand homes
completely demolished or broken due to Armenian assault on our
civilians. They usually use ballistic missiles. Ballistic missiles!
-With all due respect, that can also be what you might be doing
along with your shells on Nagorno-Karabakh and you’ve got very
subtle drone expertise which ought to can help you see
exactly what you might be concentrating on. So, why the civilian constructions
are getting hit?
-No, no. We by no means assault civilians. What we did within the territory
of Nagorno-Karabakh, we attacked their tanks, we attacked their
weapons, we attacked their artillery programs, and in addition we attacked
their army infrastructure. It isn’t our fault that these
army infrastructures typically is located within the metropolis middle.
However we by no means on objective, we by no means assault civilians. Sure, we’ve got
subtle weapons however not all of them are subtle. There
may very well be some errors. Due to this fact, there was by no means a deliberate
assault on civilians on our facet. Quite the opposite, day-after-day the
metropolis of Tartar which could be very near the road of contact is being
bombed. Now we have 2 thousand shells a day on town. It’s virtually
destroyed and no person talks about them. So, please let’s be honest
about that, we didn’t begin it, and we don’t have to assault
civilians. We want our territories. Why ought to we assault civilians
with whom we plan to reside facet by facet after the struggle is over.
Folks of Armenian origin in Nagorno-Karabakh are hostages of a
legal regime which is there. They’ll, I’m positive, reside facet by
facet with us in peace and dignity after the struggle is over.
-You have got mentioned that you simply want to see Armenia
withdraw its troops. However you’ve got additionally mentioned that you’re not
ready to just accept peacekeepers there. How else are you able to reassure
your counterparts, the Armenians, that you’ll not then retake the
complete lands?
-For those who can inform me after I mentioned that I don’t wish to see
peacekeepers, I’ll reply you, however I by no means mentioned that. That’s
mistaken data I’m sorry, I by no means mentioned…
-However you received’t settle for peacekeepers on that
territory.
-Peacekeepers is among the parts which is supplied within the
primary ideas for the settlement, which was elaborated by the
OSCE Minsk Group and there’s an merchandise about peacekeepers. However we
didn’t come to this merchandise to debate it correctly. As a result of it’s
untimely. As a result of first, we have to resolve the core issue-the
occupation, liberation of territories after which, when Azerbaijanis
will return, then in fact peacekeepers ought to come. It’s within the
framework of settlement, whether it is signed by each side. Then each
sides will choose who these peacekeepers will probably be. So we’re not
in opposition to it, however we really weren’t in lively section of
negotiations on this merchandise.
-It doesn’t sound as if your phrases of negotiations
have modified since earlier than this newest huge outbreak of hostilities.
So, I’m simply questioning, why weapons must be positioned down now if
negotiations have by no means succeeded earlier than?
-You recognize, negotiations are going down since 1992. Since that
time there have been zero progress on the bottom, zero progress.
Armenia all the time was utilizing some manipulation instruments with the intention to
disrupt negotiations. This 12 months, ranging from July they launched
thrice a army assault on us. On July, they attacked our
civilians and our army positions on the border between Armenia
and Azerbaijan far-off from Karabakh area. That lasted for 4
days, we pushed again, they may not occupy territories, and we
stopped as a result of we don’t have any army objective on Armenian
facet. On August 23, they ship a sabotage group to commit a terror
act which was detained and the pinnacle of the group provides proof. At
the top of September, they launched the artillery bombardment of
our cities and killed instantly harmless folks. We needed to
reply, we needed to push again, that’s what we did. Due to this fact, we’re
in favor of negotiations. I may give you two examples, Armenian
prime minister final 12 months introduced that “Karabakh is Armenia”. What
does it imply? It means the top of…
-I requested him what he meant.
-What he meant?
-He mentioned that he meant that ever for the reason that 4th century
there have been Armenian church buildings, there was an Armenian
inhabitants and there has ever for the reason that starting of the Soviet
Union a lot bigger Armenian inhabitants, ethnic Armenian inhabitants
in Nagorno-Karabakh than Azerbaijani.
-You recognize, he’s telling, mildly talking, not fact. The
Armenians’ settlement in that space began within the late 18th and
early nineteenth centuries after the treaty of Kurekchay was signed by
Azerbaijani Ibrahim Khan, and Russian normal. Because of that
treaty Karabakh khanate turned a part of Russia, and Russia
began…
-I’m sorry.
-That’s the way it was. That’s how Armenians got here to
Nagorno-Karabakh. It’s solely two centuries, much less. He’s telling
about 4th century.
-You have got been in energy for the reason that starting of this
century. And but, there was no progress made on this situation. It
is all very properly in charge the Armenians. However do you are taking some
private accountability for the truth that your troopers at the moment are
dying on the frontline since you politically haven’t been in a position
to resolve this?
-Our troopers are dying for our land. Our troopers are dying on
Azerbaijani soil, historic and internationally acknowledged. On
which soil now Armenian troopers are dying? They’re dying now in
Fuzuli, they’re dying in Jabrayil, they’re dying in different
Azerbaijani territories. What they’re doing there? You need to ask
Pashinyan what his troopers is doing there? 90 p.c of the
so-called “military of Nagorno-Karabakh” consists of Armenian residents.
They’re on our land. It’s simply sufficient to have a look at the map. For us
it’s a patriotic struggle. We’re defending ourselves. We wish to
restore our territorial integrity to permit a million refugees to
return. That’s what we’re doing. For 28 years we have been affected person to
imagine that negotiations will result in progress. Consequently, we
acquired what we’ve got acquired now. After we pushed again and punished the
aggressor, we’re attacked politically. I accepted the
primary ideas, Pashinyan rejected it. I settle for the format of
negotiations which is between Armenia-Azerbaijan, Pashinyan says
no, Azerbaijan ought to negotiate with Nagorno-Karabakh. So, he’s to
blame for what is occurring now.
-The French and the Russian say that they’ve
intelligence that Syrian mercenaries are getting used in your
frontlines. Do you categorically deny that?
-Completely, categorically. Up to now I haven’t been supplied with
a single doc which testified this intelligence. Allow them to present
this intelligence to me. Our intelligence representatives had
contacts after these accusations have been made. Throughout this
contacts with their counterpart no proof was supplied. If there
is proof why is it not on the newspapers? Why is it not in your
channel? The place is that this proof? Present it to me. There isn’t a
proof. We don’t want mercenaries we’ve got 100 thousand fighters,
well-prepared, well-trained. Now we have trendy tools, we’ve got all
the required army elements with the intention to liberate our land and
that’s what we’re doing. That is pretend information.
-One ultimate query, what gesture of excellent will might you
placed on the desk to attempt to begin negotiation at this
stage?
-We already did that. By the way in which, I can let you know yet one more factor
about who’s in opposition to negotiations. International ministers of Azerbaijan
and Armenia have been invited, even earlier than this outbreak, to Geneva to
meet Minsk Group co-chairs. Armenian overseas minister was supposed
to go to start with of October, our overseas minister was
purported to go on the eighth of October. So, Armenian overseas minister
ignored that, he didn’t go. Our overseas minister yesterday was in
Geneva, met with the co-chairs. And once we obtained the proposal
from Russia to arrange the assembly between overseas ministers of
Armenia and Azerbaijan in Russia, we agreed. So our overseas
minister simply an hour in the past landed in Moscow, and he will probably be assembly
together with his Russian counterpart. And I don’t know what would be the
program. Will he meet Armenian minister or not? However he’s there. We
need peaceable settlement, however settlement. We would like answer, not
imitation, not one other 30 years of etceteras, sensible steps,
time-table. When our persons are going again dwelling? What would be the
safety ensures for them? And the way we are going to reconcile? Two
nations should reconcile. We’re neighbors, we can’t reside in
hostility perpetually. This have to be stopped, however stopped on the idea
of historic fact and worldwide legislation.
-And a query about journalists working in
Nagorno-Karabakh. Your presidential spokesman has mentioned that as a result of
they’re there illegally on what you think about to be Azerbaijani
territories, they’re successfully honest sport. Is that one thing that
you imagine additionally?
-Our place could be very honest, clear. Nagorno-Karabakh is an
integral a part of Azerbaijan and our place is that, if any
overseas citizen, any-not solely journalists- if he needs or she needs
to go to Nagorno-Karabakh, please, tell us. We don’t count on
some type of particular angle, simply inform us that such and such
individual needs to go to and when we’ve got this data, once we
have this signal of respect to our territorial integrity we by no means
object. So, those that go there with out this, how one can say, process,
they’re being put within the black listing of our overseas ministry and
the doorway for them to Azerbaijan is forbidden. But when these
folks write a letter to our overseas minister that we made a
mistake, or subsequent time we are going to inform you, we take away them from the
black listing. That is honest, the one factor we want is simply respect.
Due to this fact, for these journalists who wish to go there and canopy
occasions, I’d like to make use of this chance to ship messages to
them. Please, inform our overseas ministry by e-mail and go there.
No drawback.
-And you’ll not goal them.
-We by no means do it. We by no means do it. Why ought to we? We’re
that journalists are coming. I’m on a regular basis on TV,
on a regular basis I give interviews, as a result of we wish to ship our level.
We wish to ship our case, we’re not aggressors. We’re victims.
It’s Armenia who’s an aggressor. We would like the territories again.
That’s all.
-President Aliyev, thanks a lot for speaking to us
right this moment.
-Thanks very a lot.