Aliyev's Statement on Armenia and Azerbaijan

The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has announced that more than 80,000 people have already returned to Nagorno-Karabakh and "Eastern Zangezur." In a message addressed to participants of the 82nd session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, President Aliyev mentioned that over 80,000 people have returned to Nagorno-Karabakh and "Eastern Zangezur" to rebuild their lives and work.

According to Azerbaijani media, the country's leader referred to the successful progress of the "Great Return" program and large-scale projects aimed at restoring areas damaged during the occupation. According to Aliyev, the meeting is occurring in a context of geopolitical tension and global uncertainty, highlighting the fragility of international peace.

He emphasized Azerbaijan's commitment to the principles of territorial integrity of states, reminding that the country has fully restored its sovereignty. According to the message, the peace agenda initiated with Armenia is already yielding results. Baku and Yerevan have confirmed trade ties, Azerbaijan has created conditions for transit to Armenia, and mutual visits of civil society representatives are contributing to strengthening trust.

At the same time, Aliyev expressed concern over the threat of mines, stating that following the end of the 2020 war, more than 400 Azerbaijani civilians have died or been injured due to mine explosions. The president claimed that this issue requires extensive international cooperation.