Azerbaijani MFA: Restoration of sovereignty “triumph of international law and justice”

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has described the restoration of sovereignty over the country’s lands on September 20, 2023 as “one of the most glorious pages in our history” and “a triumph of international law and justice.”

In a statement issued on the occasion of State Sovereignty Day, marked on September 20, the ministry recalled the local anti-terror measures conducted on September 19–20, 2023, which disarmed the remaining Armenian armed forces in Karabakh and restored constitutional order in the region, Caliber.Az reports. 

“The glorious armed forces of Azerbaijan, led by the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief, are the main architects of this victory. It was the determination of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and the courage of our armed forces that ensured this victory,” the ministry said, noting that Azerbaijani troops targeted only “legitimate military infrastructure and facilities,” while civilian population and infrastructure were not harmed.

The statement accused Armenia of failing to honour commitments made after the 2020 Patriotic War. 

“Armenia not only did not withdraw its armed forces from the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the course of nearly three years until 2023, but also deployed additional weapons, ammunition, military equipment, and landmines,” the ministry stressed.

The ministry further pointed to Yerevan’s continued support for the separatist regime in Karabakh. 

“The Armenian side’s continued propaganda of the so-called regime it created in our territories by all means, its congratulations to the separatist regime on the so-called ‘independence’ on 2 September 2023, the so-called ‘presidential elections’ conducted on 9 September, as well as the military provocation that killed 6 Azerbaijanis on 19 September, further aggravated the situation,” the ministry added. 

“It was imperative to prevent such behavior by Armenia and its so-called regime, which did not give up its groundless claims against the territories of Azerbaijan, grossly violated the principles of international law, and continued its policy of aggression,” the statement read.

On regional diplomacy, the ministry highlighted recent progress in peace efforts.

“The outcomes of the Washington meeting once again confirmed the peace agenda put forward by Azerbaijan,” it said, referring to the August 8, 2025 summit between the leaders of Azerbaijan, the United States, and Armenia, which resulted in a Joint Statement and the initialing of a peace agreement.

The ministry also welcomed the September 1, 2025 decision of the OSCE Ministerial Council to terminate the Minsk Process and its related structures at the request of Baku and Yerevan.

“In order not to miss this historic peace opportunity and to sign the peace agreement, it is necessary to eliminate territorial claims against Azerbaijan in the constitution of Armenia,” the statement emphasised.

Concluding, the ministry honoured the memory of those who lost their lives “for the independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of Azerbaijan,” adding: “Happy State Sovereignty Day, Azerbaijan!”

Meanwhile, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has also commemorated the day with a publication on his X account, noting that two years ago the country has ensured “historical justice and demonstrated its national pride and independence to the whole world.”

2 il öncə bu gün dövlət suverenliyimizin tam bərqərar edilməsi Azərbaycanın dövlətçilik tarixinin şanlı səhifəsidir.

Azərbaycan tarixi ədaləti təmin etmiş, milli qürurunu və müstəqilliyini bütün dünyaya nümayiş etdirmişdir.

20 sentyabr - Dövlət Suverenliyi Günümüz Mübarək! pic.twitter.com/4ShtqU1bxM

— Jeyhun Bayramov (@Bayramov_Jeyhun) September 20, 2025

“September 20- Happy State Sovereignty Day!” he wrote. 

By Sabina Mammadli