Dictator Aliyev Considers Armenia As an 'Eternal Enemy': Beglaryan

The advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Artsakh, former Human Rights Defender Artak Beglaryan writes:

“QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TO DICTATOR ALIYEV

Dictator Aliyev, in an interview with Azerbaijani television yesterday, once again issued threats and insults against the Armenian people and the republics of Artsakh and Armenia. He continues his policy of ethnic cleansing, forcing us to resist more fervently, and compelling the international community to take practical measures to fulfill its responsibility to protect the people of Artsakh.

Quoting Aliyev: 'The Armenians living in Karabakh must either accept Azerbaijani citizenship or find another place to live. There is total freedom here, and all democratic principles are offered. This issue should be resolved based on human rights.'

Response: On which democratic principles and human rights should this issue be resolved, given the genocidal actions committed against Azerbaijanis and Artsakh Armenians, under which not a single Armenian remains in Azerbaijan, under which all Armenians who fell under Azerbaijan's control during the conflict were either brutally killed or tortured and humiliated, under which Armenians are used as exhibits for Azerbaijani children in the 'strategist's grove,' under which those who stab a sleeping Armenian are hailed as national heroes, under which hatred towards Armenians is fueled in Azerbaijani society to distract from internal issues, under which Azerbaijan is considered one of the most dictatorial countries in the world, or were you referring to other human rights, Your Excellency, the so-called best defender of rights, democrat, and peacemaker...

The indigenous Armenian people of Artsakh have long made their decision—against their will, the Artsakh region, annexed to Soviet Azerbaijan, chose self-determination and freedom in 1988 and 1991. We have no other place to live than our homeland, and we have no citizenship to acquire other than that of the Republic of Artsakh. And that is our choice, enshrined in the fundamental norms of international law, while the threat of expelling people from their homeland is already ethnic cleansing, and the perpetrators will stand before the international court one day.

Quoting Aliyev: 'Currently, the separatists who have invented fake names for themselves (one calls himself president, another minister, and another the head of parliament), this group of clowns must finally understand that it will not play with our patience. We have repeatedly tried to explain to them in various ways that they either move according to our words or leave there. They must also let the Armenians who live there, in fact their captives, free. I am sure that the vast majority of the Armenian population currently living in Karabakh is ready to accept Azerbaijani citizenship. It is just that those parasites, those predatory animals do not allow these people to live peacefully; they have held them like captives for 30 years.'

Response: Without lowering myself to the level of dictator Aliyev and not using insulting labels in public discourse, I would advise him to look in the mirror before tossing labels at others and ask himself who does not allow all Armenians to live in peace, who sucks not only the blood of Armenians but also his own people, who has kept the entire population of Artsakh captive for at least 130 days, who has held prisoners of war hostage for years, who was elected through genuine democratic elections, and who inherited power through multiple violations of constitutional norms and brutal oppression, who performs bloody and corrupt representations of human rights and democracy before his own people and the world...

And the people of Artsakh have repeatedly proven through free referendums, elections, and rallies that they unanimously support independence and freedom and see no future under Azerbaijani domination. Our choice and will are irreversible because we have the right and determination to govern our destiny in our homeland without casting an eye on someone else's territories.

Quoting Aliyev: 'No one can affect our will. We have proven this during and after the war. If needed, we will prove it in any way again.'

Comment: This is yet another threat of the use of force; moreover, I would even say it is a threat to humanity as it particularly notes 'in any way.' And this man speaks of readiness for peace, human rights, and other values.

Quoting Aliyev: 'However, they (the people of Armenia) should think carefully, one day they might open their eyes and see the Azerbaijani flag above their heads.'

Comment: This is also a clear threat against the people and sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia—up to the point of seizing Yerevan. After all this, who can believe such a dictator who claims to desire peace and has no ambitions against other countries and peoples?

Quoting Aliyev: 'Firstly, because they achieved that great victory in Armenia—the enemy state—over both Azerbaijan and Turkey as an eternal enemy state and raised the Turkish flag.'

Comment: And finally, this dictator directly admits that he considers Armenia an 'eternal enemy,' whom he always seeks to humiliate and destroy. In the context of the crimes committed over the years, state policy of anti-Armenianism, and threats, he himself still plays the victim. With this fascist approach, it is impossible to have peace and stability in the region. The only solution is to apply practical internal and external deterrent measures against dictator Aliyev to prevent further crimes against the Armenian people and humanity.”