President Aliyev warns of foreign plots against Azerbaijan at parliament session

President Ilham Aliyev has warned of foreign efforts to undermine Azerbaijan’s victory and stability.

Addressing the first session of the seventh convocation of Milli Majlis (parliament) on September 23, the president stressed that certain external forces, dissatisfied with the country’s achievements, are formulating new plans to destabilize the nation, Caliber.Az report via Azertag.

“Foreign circles who cannot digest our victory are developing new plans against us,” President Aliyev stated, referring to the aftermath of Azerbaijan’s triumph in the Second Karabakh War. He pointed to slander and smear campaigns as part of a broader media effort to undermine Azerbaijan's achievements. “To keep this topic on the agenda with the hope that someday if Azerbaijan stumbles, weakens, these dirty actions will start again. That is, we must be aware of that. The government of Azerbaijan knows this, and the public must know this too. Therefore, we cannot afford to be complacent in any way,” he added.

President Aliyev also warned of continued ideological provocations aimed at undermining Azerbaijan’s stability. “Ideological provocations against us are continuing. It is true that they have not yielded any results yet, because the strong will of our people and our national spirit are in their way. It is impossible for any ideological provocation to take root here. But at the same time, this should not make us complacent,” he said. The President emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant and prepared to expose external manipulations. “We must always be ready for it and expose the dirty games played against us, as we have done, officially, in the public space and in the media. I believe that the people of Azerbaijan see everything perfectly well, know everything perfectly well – who is our friend and who is our enemy,” he noted.

Addressing Azerbaijan's land border policies during the pandemic and other crises, President Aliyev credited the closure of borders with preventing significant threats to the country. “The closure of our land borders over the past years has saved us from many major disasters. Even today, when the borders are closed, dangerous actions do take place and these actions are prevented,” he remarked. The President emphasized that strict border protection remains crucial for mitigating external risks. “The protection of our borders will safeguard us from external risks. There are no internal risks in Azerbaijan. Security and peace have been ensured in Azerbaijan for many years. Our stability can be an example for the whole world,” he added, stressing that stability is essential for the country’s development and attractiveness to foreign investors. “Everyone knows that no country can develop in the absence of stability. Today, everyone can see the situation and the fate of destabilized countries. This is the main condition for security, development, and the attraction of foreign investment.”

Rising revanchist sentiments in Armenia

The President also highlighted concerns about the growing revanchist forces in Armenia, noting that these sentiments extend beyond marginal political groups. “The current leadership of Armenia is also living with these thoughts and illusions,” he remarked. Despite Armenia’s public statements, Aliyev warned that its policies suggest otherwise. He criticized the continued existence of the Minsk Group, which has played a minimal role in recent years, as an indication of Armenia's refusal to accept the consequences of the Second Karabakh War and Azerbaijan's anti-terror operations.

Strengthening Azerbaijan’s military power

In response to potential provocations from Armenia, President Aliyev announced that Azerbaijan is bolstering its military defences. “We are strengthening the conditional border because any provocation can be expected from Armenia at any moment. The Armenian side is getting extensively armed. At the same time, it conducts military exercises with foreign countries and major powers. Western countries are sending weapons and ammunition to Armenia,” he said.

Aliyev further noted that some Western countries are attempting to use Armenia as a tool to apply pressure on Azerbaijan. “Of course, they are not interested in the Armenian people. The Armenian people are just a tool in their hands, a tool for keeping Azerbaijan under constant pressure,” the President remarked, adding that Azerbaijan is fully aware of these external threats.

President Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijan’s progress in modernizing its military industry. “Large-scale modernization works are underway in all our military plants. New equipment, machinery, weapons, and ammunition are being produced,” he said. With new production facilities being established in cooperation with foreign partners, Aliyev projected that Azerbaijan’s military-industrial complex would become even larger in the next one to two years. He also noted that Azerbaijan is exporting military products to dozens of countries, with this geographical reach expanding every year.

Reflecting on Azerbaijan’s military advancements since the Second Karabakh War, Aliyev outlined the government's strategy to continuously enhance the country's defence capabilities. “We have significantly increased our military power, created new armed formations, and the number of special forces has multiplied several times,” he said. He assured that the combat readiness of the Azerbaijani army has improved, with military equipment supplies also reaching the necessary levels.

“Armenia and any country behind it must know that it is impossible to speak to us in the language of blackmail and ultimatums. We are ready to give any response; we are capable of this and must always be prepared for it,” he added.

Reconstruction and international recognition

President Aliyev also emphasized the new opportunities emerging for Azerbaijan following the complete restoration of its sovereignty over the previously occupied territories. “The thirty years of occupation are now behind, and we are embarking on large-scale reconstruction and development efforts, with visible results,” he noted. Aliyev highlighted that Azerbaijan’s international standing has strengthened, and the outcomes of the Second Karabakh War have gained widespread recognition.

Despite the success, Aliyev stressed that military strength remains Azerbaijan's top priority, particularly in light of the global rise in conflicts and Armenia’s revanchist tendencies. “The task of increasing our military strength is the number one priority,” he said, warning that neglecting the defence sector could lead to future problems.

President Aliyev also emphasized the large-scale reconstruction efforts underway in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, regions liberated after the Second Karabakh War. He detailed the government's financial commitments to rebuilding these territories, noting that 19 billion manats ($11.1 billion) have been allocated by the end of the year, with the majority directed towards infrastructure projects.

The President highlighted the progress in returning displaced persons to their homes: “Efforts are being made to return former IDPs to their homes, and more than 8,000 former IDPs have already settled in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur. Their number will increase every month and every year,” Aliyev announced.

Aliyev also touched upon the specific infrastructure developments taking place in the liberated areas. “Schools, hospitals, social facilities, villages are under construction. In other words, in a nutshell, large-scale work is underway for the revival of Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur,” the head of state added, underscoring the importance of these reconstruction efforts to restoring normal life in the regions.