Lessons from Azerbaijan: Ilham Aliyev said never to recognize occupation

Recently, at a media forum held in the city of Shusha, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, delivered a historic speech, reported newsukraine.rbc.ua. He was asked what advice he would give Ukrainians for restoring their territorial integrity. Aliyev's answer became an important signal not only for Azerbaijan, but for all nations suffering from occupation.

The head of state first of all emphasized that one should never accept occupation. According to him, this position gave Azerbaijan the strength and patience to overcome difficult times. “This, in my opinion, matches the aspirations of Ukrainians. Never accept occupation. This is the main advice. We did the same,” he said.

Speaking about the country's history, Aliyev recalled the heavy consequences of the Karabakh war, nearly a million refugees, economic difficulties and a total lack of international assistance.

“From an economic point of view, a million people lost their means of livelihood. More than 700,000 Azerbaijanis fled from the Karabakh region. In addition, 250,000 Azerbaijanis who lived in Armenia were deported,” the president said.

One of the main points the president highlighted was the unity of the country and society. In his opinion, it was precisely the trust of the people in the President and the Commander-in-Chief that led Azerbaijan to great victory. This unity was the main factor on the way to territorial integrity.

“We gradually began to stand up, developed and thought only about one thing. I am sure that most of our citizens will agree with my words. We thought about returning the occupied territories. We understood that it would be very difficult,” Aliyev said.

Speaking about historical processes, Aliyev also touched on the work of the OSCE Minsk Group, which, according to him, was aimed at maintaining the status quo and injustice. Despite unexpected obstacles and attempts to "drag out time", Azerbaijan in 2020 made an independent decision, began the operation to restore historical justice, and finally, in 2023, resolved the issue in one day.

In conclusion, Ilham Aliyev, based on his life path and the experience of the country, once again emphasized the importance of never giving up, not abandoning territorial integrity, and relying on the unity of society. He recalled that wars end only when one side gives up, and a truce is only necessary to gain strength.

“The unity of society gave me strength as president and commander-in-chief. I believed in the support of the people. Perhaps this was the decisive factor. So, I repeat once again: never give up,” said Aliyev.

This speech remains a great inspiration and source of hope for all peoples striving for independence and drawing strength from patience and unity on the path to success. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!