A new chapter in Azerbaijan’s history From victory to peace

One of the most significant days in Azerbaijan’s history has arrived — September 19, which, according to President Ilham Aliyev, is as glorious and historic for the nation as November 8.

Just a few days ago, during a meeting with residents of the Khojaly district villages, the President emphasised that the anti-terrorist operation of September 19–20, 2023, which lasted only a few hours, was a lesson for the separatists and their patrons.

President Ilham Aliyev noted that the basis for the end of the separatists, as well as the silence of all those on whom they had pinned their hopes, was the fact that no one could stand against the Azerbaijani army and the Azerbaijani people, “because we are in the right”.

In this context, it should be highlighted: Azerbaijan continues to write modern, and we dare say, global history. Indeed — global history. Because it demonstrates how the unity, will, and spirit of a people can achieve historical justice based on the norms and principles of international law.

At the same time, Azerbaijan has always been and remains a state committed to peacefully resolving the goals and tasks facing its people. The difference is that, given the violation of our country’s territorial integrity and the unwillingness of both the Armenian occupiers and the so-called Minsk Group, as well as the ideological and military sponsors of the aggressors, to implement the four well-known UN Security Council resolutions calling for the withdrawal of occupation forces from Azerbaijan’s sovereign lands, Baku exercised its right to achieve justice on the battlefield.

Today, the international community is well aware that the modern history of Azerbaijan, the South Caucasus, and, as mentioned above, the world (through the prism of events in the region) is conveyed by President Ilham Aliyev most objectively, based on historical facts — whether in speeches at global forums, addresses to participants of international conferences, press statements after negotiations, or major summits.

The president regularly informs the international community about what has happened and continues to unfold in the South Caucasus. More often than not, this is accompanied by an excellent historical overview, which further lifts the veil on the events in and around Azerbaijan.

It can be stated with confidence that all interested parties have carefully studied the President’s speech last month in Kalbajar during a meeting with former internally displaced persons. At that time, Ilham Aliyev noted that even after the Victory in the 2020 Patriotic War, part of our lands remained outside our control, and from November 2020 until September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan’s primary goal was the full restoration of its sovereignty.

In this context, the so-called Lachin Corridor was gradually neutralised, transformed into the Lachin–Khankendi road, and a checkpoint was established on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. During this period, key strategic heights were liberated, and operations such as “Farrukh,” “Girkhgiz,” and “Saribaba” were conducted — all of which became glorious chapters in our history and part of Azerbaijan’s deliberate policy to eradicate separatism from our land.

“We crushed it” as a result of the anti-terrorist operation, following which the separatist junta signed an act of capitulation — a document that, in the words of President Ilham Aliyev, marked the end of the existence of the “fake republic.”

By the end of 2023, Ilham Aliyev announced Armenia’s readiness to accept the five peace agreement principles developed by Baku. As the president noted, had Armenia done so three years earlier, there would have been no need for the anti-terrorist operation.

The August 2025 agreements between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington, with the participation of U.S. President Donald Trump, formalised Armenia’s consent not only to these principles but also to the opening of the Zangezur Corridor and to the provisions of the jointly signed Washington Declaration.

In this way, Armenia effectively recognised the status quo carefully established by Baku. And this concerns far more than just Armenia.

President Ilham Aliyev emphasised that the initialling of the peace agreement text in Washington effectively marked the end of the Armenian-Azerbaijani confrontation. At the same time, it ensured a land connection with Nakhchivan.

With Armenia assuming this commitment, Ilham Aliyev expressed hope that in the coming years “we will be able to travel from the main part of Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan by train and by car.” He noted that this route, connecting the two parts of Azerbaijan, would also become an international transport corridor. Given the passage of several transport routes through our country, this further underscores Azerbaijan’s significance.

All of these steps clearly demonstrate the grandmaster-like character of Baku’s policy in restoring territorial integrity and sovereignty.

President Ilham Aliyev highlighted that the Azerbaijani people once again demonstrated their greatness at the highest international level. As a result, the new realities created through the Patriotic War and the anti-terrorist operation have been recognised by the entire world.

This is particularly significant considering that, following the Second Karabakh War and especially after the September 2023 anti-terrorist operation, Armenia’s patrons — certain countries and influential circles — launched an anti-Azerbaijani campaign. They openly intended to impose sanctions and other measures against Azerbaijan. However, as the President noted, they did not succeed in the slightest. Azerbaijan has strong partners, and in international organisations, our position has always been regarded as just. Azerbaijan fought on its own land, did not occupy foreign territories as some states do, did not carry out ethnic cleansing, and did not destroy the cities and villages of other countries.

The valiant Azerbaijani army, fighting on its own soil under the leadership of the Supreme Commander, President Ilham Aliyev, defeated the enemy on the battlefield.

Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity, in line with the UN Security Council resolutions. And the documents signed in Washington, at the world’s number-one office, brought an end to all anti-Azerbaijani efforts by partisan forces.

Today, the international community has fully recognised our Victory and the new realities — which in itself is a historic event.

We would like to conclude this piece with the words of President Ilham Aliyev from his Address to the Azerbaijani people on September 20, 2023. He emphasised that no one who looks down on Azerbaijan, covets our lands, or cannot tolerate our successes should forget: “The iron fist” will always remain in place! And let no one forget that Karabakh is Azerbaijan!