Aliyev's Speech in Stepanakert Does Not bode Well for Armenia: Thomas de Waal

The speech of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev in occupied Stepanakert does not promise anything good for Armenia. This opinion was voiced by Thomas de Waal, an expert at the Carnegie Europe center, on his X microblog, analyzing Aliyev's statements.

In his view, “this is an angry speech that speaks of past grievances and says nothing about the future or reconciliation.”

“There is no olive branch. The choreography highlights this. Aliyev, in military uniform, stands in an empty square in Stepanakert/Khankendi. Later, he was filmed walking alone through abandoned streets and offices.

The expert highlights Aliyev's remarks that “all residents of Azerbaijan glorify Allah.” “This ‘we’ does not include the Armenians who fled three weeks ago, and there’s no call for their return. This sounds very personal, as if Aliyev still wants to settle scores for what he sees as 17 years of humiliation when Armenians were in a dominant position. For this, he mocks the Armenian leaders of Karabakh, saying they are ‘drinking tea’ in Azerbaijan’s prisons, ‘waiting for justice.’

It was also personal in the sense that the speech coincided with the 20th anniversary of his first inauguration as president in 2003. Perhaps even the September military operation coincided with this date. This does not bode well for Armenia. There are no signs of what Western countries are calling for—Aliyev should start treating Armenia and Pashinyan as partners rather than as a defeated enemy.

On the contrary, this suggests that Aliyev still believes he gains legitimacy in the eyes of the public by mobilizing anti-Armenian sentiments. And these are strong signs that he will continue to threaten Armenia directly.”