“Azerbaijan is Building Airports for NATO Planes, Targeting Iran,” Says Norat Ter-Grigoryants

Norat Ter-Grigoryants, a former Soviet and Russian armed forces Lieutenant General, who served as the head of the Armenian Ministry of Defense's General Staff from 1992 to 1995 and as acting Minister of Defense in 1993, is closely monitoring geopolitical developments around Armenia, deeming them dangerous. He warns that if the Armenian people do not learn from the reasons behind their recent military defeat, another conflict will not be far off.

In an interview with 168.am, Ter-Grigoryants recalled the phase preceding the first Nagorno-Karabakh war, the conflict itself, and his arrival in Armenia at the request of Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Vazgen Sargsyan, whom he regards as devoted patriots and saviors of the nation. According to him, following the first war's defeat, Azerbaijan rejuvenated itself, prospering under the leadership of Ilham Aliyev, who sought retribution and began transforming the military readiness using oil revenues, enlisting Turkey—its primary ally—in the military reorganization.

Ter-Grigoryants asserted that Aliyev continues Turkey’s plans, which aim at territorial expansion and were marked by acts of genocide. He stated, “Ahead of the Karabakh War, we learned that Azerbaijan had a plan to attack Karabakh, conquer the Zangezur region, connect with Nakhchivan, and advance towards Yerevan. The people of Karabakh resolved to address the issue before the ‘storm’ and conducted a referendum, utilizing the opportunity presented by the USSR's collapse.”

He described how, after the war, the signing of a document took place, in which he was not included for signing, attributing it to Ter-Petrosyan's mistake. Ter-Grigoryants emphasized that he does not wish to dwell on that period, though much has changed since then.

When asked whether the current capitulation is a continuation of the gaps observed during the Bishkek agreement, the general responded that it might be a factor as well. He has previously expressed objections regarding the document.

Ter-Grigoryants pointedly remarked that when it comes to attributing blame for the defeat, he holds the Armenian people accountable for electing leaders who dismantle the armed forces and mismanage the country. “From the perspective of state leadership, Aliyev has acted in an exceedingly clever and strategic manner. Seizing the opportunity that his main partner, Turkey, is striving to recreate the Ottoman Empire in Iraq, Syria, Libya, and currently in Ukraine, he managed to utilize Turkey’s capabilities as well,” he said.

Addressing the issue of unblocking and the so-called Zangezur corridor, he firmly opposed the idea. “Let them build a bridge from Kovsakan to Nakhchivan; after all, Aliyev is wealthy, and similar bridges exist everywhere, including in Europe. Let them use those routes, which should also be under control. This way, Iran will not face blockades. If Armenia agrees to this, it effectively seals Iran’s fate. It is no coincidence that Israel is helping Azerbaijan in its efforts to eliminate Armenians; they are building airports for NATO planes. Azerbaijan is also supporting them in their potential attack on Iran,” he stated, advising Armenia to collaborate with Iran and refrain from instigating actions against that country.

It should be noted that on October 26, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev attended the official opening of a new international airport in Varanda (Fizuli). Azerbaijan plans to construct two more airports, one in Lachin and another in Kovsakan (Zangelan). According to Aliyev, Zangelan is set to become a major logistics center.