President Aliyev: Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process will be long-lasting

The peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia is underway and is expected to be long-lasting, President Ilham Aliyev said, while stressing that Azerbaijan will preserve the memory of the destruction and loss suffered during the years of conflict.

“Today there is peace, and the war has ceased. The peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan is underway, and I am confident that it will be long-lasting. In any case, such is the position of the Azerbaijani state,” the Azerbaijani president said on September 15 during a meeting in Baku with participants of international conferences, Caliber.Az reports, citing state media.

The president said, however, that the establishment of peace would not mean forgetting what Azerbaijan had experienced during the conflict. He stressed that the memory of the victims and damage caused by the occupation would remain an important part of Azerbaijan's approach to the peace process.

“However, we will never forget the atrocities committed against us and against our people. We will never forget the victims of Khojaly, our destroyed mosques, or our desecrated cultural sites, and this memory will make us even more vigilant. This memory will not allow us to be deceived by sweet words again; it will not allow any insidious plans against our people to succeed ever again,” the president said.

He then turned to the destruction and desecration of mosques during the period of Armenian occupation, reminding that 65 mosques had been completely destroyed, while others were left partially ruined. The president stressed that mosques had been deliberately used in ways intended to offend the religious and cultural sensitivities of Azerbaijanis.

“You have likely seen those photographs as well: Armenia intentionally and deliberately kept animals—pigs and cattle—inside the mosques. In other words, in order to insult us, humiliate us, and, understanding our sensitivities, deliberately inflict further pain on our people, they did not refrain from such barbaric acts. In reality, this was an insult not only to us and our people, but to the entire Islamic world. Look, this is the true face of the Armenian state. We must never forget this, and we will not forget it,” Aliyev said.

President Aliyev also highlighted Azerbaijan's reconstruction efforts in areas affected by the conflict, saying restoration work began almost immediately after the Second Garabagh War ended in 2021.

“I must also state that we began restoration work almost immediately after the Second Garabagh War ended in 2021. The first site to be restored was the Aghdam Mosque,” he said.

According to the head of state, the restoration of religious sites has continued since then, with 12 mosques that were completely or partially destroyed having already been restored or rebuilt.

“To date, 12 mosques that were either completely or partially destroyed have already been restored and rebuilt, and this process is ongoing,” the head of state said.

Moreover, the president addressed Azerbaijan's conduct during the 2020 war, noting that Azerbaijani forces had targeted military formations rather than civilians.

“During the Second Garabagh War, we targeted only military formations. Unlike Armenia, we have never waged war against unarmed civilians,” President Aliyev said.

He said such an approach was consistent with the mentality and traditions of the Azerbaijani people. 

“This is contrary to both the mentality and traditions of our people. I said back during the war that we must take our revenge on the battlefield, and we did so to the fullest extent. The blood of our martyrs was not spilled in vain,” the head of state added.

By Sabina Mammadli