POINT OF NO RETURN

On August 14, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev gave a broad interview to CNN Türk. Remarkably, the interview took place at a rather sensitive time. In recent weeks, tensions have noticeably increased not only on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, but also in the temporary zone of responsibility of Russian peacekeepers in Azerbaijan. In both countries, there were speculations about the possible start of a new war. In Azerbaijan, they prefer to talk about the conflict in the past tense, while in Armenia this topic is discussed almost constantly. President Aliyev reiterated that Baku does not want a new war, but if the post-war peace is torpedoed in Yerevan, only the Armenian side will be responsible for the consequences.

Interview amid tensions

Unfortunately, a common saying that the history teaches us nothing is applicable to Armenia. Having not learned from the bitter experience of their inglorious thirty years of rule in the occupied Azerbaijani territories and from the result of the Second Garabagh War, Armenia increasingly cherishes the revanchist ideas. They continue to talk about the rearmament of the army, revival of the OSCE Minsk Group activities based on the old agenda, where the central topic of discussions will be the so-called status of Nagorno-Karabakh. Yet President Aliyev revealed all the absurdity and futility of these plans in his interview. He again drew attention to the need to finally turn the page of the past and build the future of the region on the basis of the norms and principles of international law. Baku invites Yerevan to jointly develop the legal foundations of the future coexistence of the two nations.

“I have openly said several times that we want to sign a peace treaty with Armenia so that Armenia and Azerbaijan recognise the territorial integrity of each other and begin the process of delimitation of borders,” Ilham Aliyev said. Baku is doing everything possible to fix this issue as the main topic of the regional political agenda.

Meanwhile, the Armenian side, which is trying to restore the positions of separatists in the region allegedly to "protect the security of the Armenian people of Artsakh", is essentially strengthening the separatist regime and thus torpedoing the implementation of the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020. If this trend continues, it can increase tensions in the region. On the eve of the anniversary of the Second Garabagh War, Baku makes it clear that it will be adamant and persistent in returning to the post-war accords.

Speaking about Yerevan's reaction to Baku's proposals to sign a peace treaty, President Aliyev noted that “apparently, Armenia is not ready for this or is against it. As I said, it would be a big mistake, and they would be sorry for that. Because we will not keep this proposal on the table forever. If they are against this, then they should openly say that they do not want to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. In this case, we will conduct our policy accordingly."

Meanwhile, on August 10, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense for the first time openly acknowledged that the complete withdrawal of Armenian troops from the Azerbaijani territories temporarily controlled by the Russian peacekeeping forces in accordance with the trilateral statement has not been ensured. According to the ministry’s statement, “there are cases of Armenia transferring troops to the Azerbaijani territories under the temporary control of Russian peacekeeping forces, establishment of new Armenian posts near the settlements of Mukhtarkand and Shushakend, as well as to the east of the administrative borders of the Kalbajar and Lachin districts. Azerbaijani Army is taking adequate measures to prevent such cases." In his interview, President Aliyev also addressed this issue, making it clear that the iron fist of the Azerbaijani Army is still effective and these games behind the backs of the peacekeepers can cost the Armenian side dearly.

“What is this? Armenia is preparing for a new war?! If so, then we will take proactive measures. I said this, I want to say it again: if Armenian fascism tries to raise its head again, we will destroy it again. The defeat in the Second Garabagh War should be a lesson for them,” Ilham Aliyev said.

Mr. Aliyev made it clear that he was concerned about some of Moscow's actions and expects it to correct the current line of conduct in accordance with the spirit of neutrality of the mediator and peacemaker. In his typical diplomatic manner, Mr. Aliyev underlined that he did not question the role of the Russian side in the current situation, expecting that it will be carried out more effectively. “Russia, as a neighbour of Azerbaijan and a close ally of Armenia, of course, plays a special role in this region. It is natural. We hope that Russia will make every effort to ensure the security of the region and take steps to ensure lasting peace. At the same time, we expect that Russia does not arm Armenia. We brought this issue to the attention of the Russian side. This worries us. War is over".

Azerbaijan makes it clear that Russian peacekeepers were brought into the region to ensure, among other things, the withdrawal of Armenian forces from the territory of Azerbaijan, and not to protect them from the Azerbaijani Army. In addition, Baku emphasises that no one will prevent Azerbaijan from fulfilling the terms of last year's agreements and that all the tricks of the Armenian side are in vain.

Corridors

In his interview, Mr. Aliyev also addressed the issue of unblocking communications. He once again underlined the importance of opening the Zangezur corridor as the main condition for the implementation of the 9th clause of the November 2020 agreement. For the project opens up new opportunities for both Azerbaijan and Turkey. Everyone wins, including Armenia itself, if the Armenian leaders approach the issue properly, expect promising returns, not tricks. Ilham Aliyev explained the benefits of the project for Yerevan and the regional stakeholders.

At the same time, Azerbaijan's broad interpretation of the Zangezur corridor causes rejection in Armenia, which creates certain obstacles for the implementation of the project. These minor obstacles, of course, cannot stop and even reverse the project, but it is better that they do not exist at all.

For example, Azerbaijan proposes to focus not only on the restoration of the railway communication, but also on the reconstruction of the highway that once connected the mainland Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Armenia, however, pretends that there has never been any such automobile road in this region, meaning that there can be no issue of its restoration.

However, Yerevan has always had problems with geography. Therefore, the country found itself in such an unenviable position. In the current circumstances, the situation is getting even worse, as Yerevan has to accept the condition of Azerbaijan.

This statement is also true for the Lachin corridor passing through Azerbaijan. This transport line is under the full visual control of Azerbaijan. “We see everything going on in the Lachin corridor. We can see the Lachin corridor even from Shusha. There is a place there where we can see all the cars moving through the corridor within probably 10 meters. Of course, we have technical equipment and cameras there. We are observing what is happening in the Lachin corridor and in the regions under the control of the Russian peacekeeping forces. We know with certainty the number of cars going to Khankendi,” President Aliyev said. He also cited facts as an evidence to the outflow of the small Armenian population from the mountainous part of Garabagh. So, from July 11 to August 8, about 5,000 people left Khankendi towards Armenia and did not return. That is, 20,000 people left there, and 15,000 returned. This indicates that ordinary residents are not going to be hostages of the adventurous policy of their leaders, which has turned them, in fact, into a human shield to protect them from the Azerbaijani Army.

If Armenia, as Azerbaijan, tries to use the Zangezur and Lachin corridors exclusively for peaceful purposes, then the unblocking communications and peacebuilding will go much faster.

It is noteworthy that along with Armenia, which supports the return of Armenians to the mountainous part of Garabagh, Azerbaijan also announces the return of Azerbaijanis to Zangezur. But instead of using force to accomplish this mission, Baku supports peaceful and consistent process of return. This is the fundamental difference between the Armenian and Azerbaijani politicians.

President of Azerbaijan in Kelbajar and Lachin!

While Armenia is trying to intimidate the process of establishing post-war peace in the region, Azerbaijan is actively engaged in the restoration of the liberated lands. Mr. Aliyev became the first president of Azerbaijan to visit the liberated districts of Kelbajar and Lachin. According to AzerTAG, President and the First Lady took part in the groundbreaking ceremony for an 11.6-kilometre tunnel to be constructed through the Murovdagh Mountain on the Toghanaly-Kelbajar highway. They both were reported of the works implemented at small (4.4 MW) hydroelectric power station on the Lev River in Kelbajar, and opened the 110/35/10 kilovolt substation Kelbajar. President Aliyev also laid the foundation for a 3.4-kilometer tunnel on the Kelbajar-Lachin highway, as well as the Lachin International Airport in the Gorchu village. On the way back, President Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva met with the first beekeepers, who spent the summer in Kelbajar after the de-occupation. This was another sign that peace is returning to the lands once occupied by Armenia.

One of the key messages of the president during his visit was that Azerbaijanis would return not only to their native villages in the liberated territories of the country, but also to the lands of their ancestors in the territory of modern Armenia, from where they were expelled.

“Western Zangezur is currently under the control of Armenia. But as soon as the Zangezur corridor is completed, we will return fellow Azerbaijanis to the lands of their ancestors. We have such plans, and this is natural. Because our compatriots were forcibly expelled from the present territory of Armenia - not only from the Zangezur Mahal, but also from the Goycha Mahal. They have every right to live on the lands of their ancestors. We keep it for the next stage."

As expected, the statements of the Azerbaijani President made a lot of noise in Armenia and abroad. Unhealthy critics of the Azerbaijani position immediately began to draw apocalyptic images referring to the seizure of Western Zangezur by Azerbaijan, mythical massacre of Armenians, threats to take revenge, etc. in order to increase pressure on Baku.

Meanwhile, the true purpose of these statements is the desire to restore historical justice. Why do the same critics acknowledge the goal of Yerevan to move the Armenian population to Garabagh, but demonstrate an aggressive stance toward Baku’s intention to return Azerbaijanis to their ancestral lands on the territory of present-day Armenia?

Why do politicians in Armenia and beyond turn their noses up when Azerbaijan calls Khankendi by its real name, while there are many cities and settlements in Armenia that once had Azerbaijani names. It is no coincidence that during his visits to Kelbajar and Lachin, President Aliyev pointed out that the ancient Azerbaijani settlements should be called by their real names. Thus, located in the historically Azerbaijani mahal of Goycha, the Basarkechar district in Armenia is now called Vardenis. Mr. Aliyev recalled that the Basarkechar district was founded in 1930 in Armenia, with the absolute majority of the local population being Azerbaijanis.

“Residents of the Zod village were also Azerbaijanis but they were deported. Armenia renamed the Basarkechar district into Vardenis only in June 1969. The name Basarkecher should be restored in our lexicon... All other ancient Azerbaijani settlements located in modern Armenia should also be named in accordance with their real names,” Ilham Aliyev said. He noted that the village called Yeraskh by the Armenians also has a historical name Arazdeyan, and Azerbaijanis lived there until they were deported.

The return of Garabagh marked the beginning of the process of returning Azerbaijanis to their places of permanent residence, both in present-day Azerbaijan and beyond. No one expects this process to be easy, but no one doubts that it is already irreversible.