Azerbaijan commends Russian peacekeepers for ensuring stability in Karabakh PHOTO

In a ceremony marking the conclusion of the Russian peacekeeping contingent's mission in Karabakh, high-ranking officials from Azerbaijan and Russia lauded the efforts undertaken to restore peace and stability in the region following the 44-day Patriotic War.

Colonel General Karim Valiyev, Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, reflected on the significant strides made over three years ago, underlining Azerbaijan's triumph and the restoration of territorial integrity.

“Today, on this significant day, I would like to remind you that more than 3 years ago, in the 44-day Patriotic War, under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, our country ended it with complete victory and the restoration of territorial integrity,” Valiyev said during a ceremony held at the base of the peacekeeping contingent in Khojaly, APA reports.

He emphasized the necessity of local anti-terrorism measures to suppress provocations by illegal Armenian armed groups against civilians, resulting in the cessation of separatist activities and the withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from Azerbaijani territory.

“In order to suppress the ongoing provocations of illegal Armenian armed groups against civilians and establish full control of the Republic of Azerbaijan over the Karabakh economic region, local anti-terrorism measures were carried out in September 2023. As a result of these events, the activities of the separatist regime were completely stopped, and the remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups were finally withdrawn from the territory of the country.

Taking into account the current situation, the top leadership of our countries made a decision on the early completion of the mission of the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation,” he said.

Valiyev expressed gratitude to the peacekeepers for their service for the benefit of peace and stability in the Karabakh economic region and wished them success in their future activities.

Meanwhile, Evgeny Nikiforov, First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces and Chief of the General Staff of the Ground Forces, highlighted the remarkable achievements of the Russian peacekeepers during their tenure in Karabakh.

Nikiforov underscored the critical role played by sappers in clearing vast swathes of territory and neutralizing a staggering 30,000 explosives, contributing significantly to the region's safety and security.

He noted that more than 90,000 people were provided with humanitarian assistance, and more than 1,000 civilians received qualified medical care.

“Three and a half years ago, as a result of joint efforts, the war in Karabakh was stopped. The leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia signed a trilateral joint statement to end the war. Almost the next day, the deployment of Russian peacekeepers began in the region, posts were established on the territory of Karabakh, and the ground was created for the formation of sustainable peace in the region,” said Nikiforov.

Russian peacekeepers were temporarily deployed on the territory of Azerbaijan under the trilateral statement signed on November 10, 2020. Later, the top leadership of the two countries made a decision on the withdrawal of the peacekeepers from the territory of Azerbaijan.