Positive developments in Azerbaijan amidst opponent’s anger Demolition and discontent

Every day is brimming with events that are truly uplifting.

Gegam Stepanyan, a self-proclaimed human rights defender from the self-declared but now disbanded "Artsakh," is upset. He disapproves of the construction work Azerbaijan is undertaking in Susanlig village in the Khojavend district. Gegam has posted satellite images on X showing that most of the rural infrastructure, including houses, a school, and a kindergarten, has been demolished. Gegam is distressed and outraged, which seems to be a recurring theme for him since the beginning of the 44-day second Karabakh war. By the way, you should have seen these buildings—those rural houses, the school, and the “kindergarten”—before Azerbaijan brought in its construction equipment.

The separatists, during the occupation of the Azerbaijani land and expulsion of Azerbaijanis, not only failed to build anything new but didn't even bother to repair the old buildings. Perhaps they were too lazy—likely because their skills were lacking—or maybe they understood that they were on the occupied territory, unwelcome guests who would eventually have to leave Azerbaijan, and leave for good. Under such circumstances, repairing old buildings or building anything new was pointless. Azerbaijan’s approach, as the rightful owner, is fundamentally different.

All buildings that do not meet construction standards and were built in violation of regulations are deemed unfit for use because living in hazardous buildings is unsafe and risky. The condition of these rural houses, the school, and the “kindergarten” is so bad that it is easier to demolish them and build new ones than to repair what should have been torn down by the end of the last century.

So, Mr. Stepanian’s outrage is a source of amusement. What could be more gratifying than the rage of your adversary?

Azerbaijan has recently unveiled the national anthem of the Republic of Yerevan (or alternatively, the Republic of Western Azerbaijan). It features stirring music and a compelling text; the words of the anthem are very appealing. The lyrics include lines like, "Let us free Yerevan from foreign hands, making its return inevitable." The melody is upbeat and even martial, calling for new achievements and even greater victories. However, the Armenian think tank "Geghard" has condemned this, expressing indignation and even deeming it unacceptable. This reaction is entirely expected—what is highly praised in Azerbaijan is naturally unlikely to be well received in Armenia. Tastes differ.

The roots of Azerbaijan’s victory trace back to the mid-1990s. On May 12, 1994, a ceasefire agreement was signed. Although 20 per cent of the Azerbaijani land was occupied at that period, even then, maps of Azerbaijan included the territories temporarily held by Armenia. Parts of the Azerbaijani territory were shaded, and an entire generation was raised with this mindset. This was the right strategy: to remember, not to forget, and to make every possible effort to return the occupied districts to the rightful owner.

This strategy has proven entirely effective. The children who were forced to flee the occupied territories barefoot in the early 1990s returned to Karabakh in 2020, but now they wore combat boots—size 44. The separatists should remember both the size and the type of footwear worn by the Azerbaijani soldiers who reclaimed what was rightfully ours. Azerbaijan has no territorial claims against Armenia, but Azerbaijanis who were expelled from Armenia in late 1987 have every right to return to their ancestral lands and receive broad autonomy in full accordance with international law and the right of peoples to self-determination.

So, there's no need to panic; the beautiful text and music of the anthem are about international law and self-determination. What could be more pleasant than the fury of your opponent?

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) expressed its dissatisfaction with the Trump-Pence administration on August 14. ANCA mentioned "encouraging Azerbaijan's aggression against ‘Artsakh’," "failing to take significant steps to hold Azerbaijan accountable," and even reminding Trump of his "refusal to recognize the Armenian genocide." Moreover, ANCA stressed that this will be a heavy burden for the US voters of Armenian descent in November this year, including those in key swing states."

In short, US citizens of Armenian descent are upset and are likely to vote for Kamala Harris. This might not bother Trump too much, as he can manage without those votes, but he is unlikely to forget this tone and hysteria. Time will show.

Moreover, two French fighter jets have recently crashed in eastern France. A few sentences should have been written about this incident too, although the three previous news items were also quite positive.