Azerbaijan's President Delivers Another 'Peaceful' Speech: Tatevik Hayrapetyan

Former MP Tatevik Hayrapetyan writes: “Azerbaijan's President has delivered another ‘peaceful’ speech, where the following main theses were voiced: Azerbaijan is a victorious state, and Armenia is defeated. Everyone must take this reality into account. The foundation of Armenian-Azerbaijani interactions is based on this factor.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved. The Minsk Group has completed its activities. Armenia must come to terms with the fact that there is no Nagorno-Karabakh and no question of status; there is a Karabakh region, which was confirmed in Brussels. Azerbaijanis have lived for centuries in the eastern and western parts of Zangezur. These territories have been unfairly severed from Azerbaijan and handed over to Armenia. Yerevan was also severed and handed to the Armenians. This was an unacceptable crime.

We will continue to strengthen our military capabilities, as issues in the world are resolved by force.

P.S. It was clear and predictable that Aliyev would respond in this manner to the Armenian side's retreat policies and the dangerous approaches aimed at lowering the bar on the Artsakh issue. The pressure from Azerbaijan and new territorial aspirations will increasingly strengthen. Therefore, by engaging in self-deception and constructing false ‘peace,’ we will once again be unprepared to confront our challenges.”