Presidential aide: Diplomacy without military strength akin to music without instruments

Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration, recently drew a comparison between diplomacy and military strength, suggesting that effective diplomacy without military capability is like attempting music without instruments.

According to Caliber.Az, in a message on his Telegram channel, Hajiyev echoed President Ilham Aliyev's view that Azerbaijan's military is not merely ceremonial but a force that achieved significant victories in ending a decades-long occupation through a combination of military and diplomatic efforts. He emphasized the Azerbaijani Army's conduct during operations in 2020 and 2023, noting their adherence to international humanitarian laws with no deliberate harm to civilians or infrastructure.

"As President Ilham Aliyev said, the Army of Azerbaijan is not an army of military exercises and parades. The Army of Azerbaijan is an army that has achieved absolute military victory in modern conventional wars, demonstrating a revolution in military affairs. By independently ending 30 years of occupation through military and political means, Azerbaijan has proved that international law is valid and relevant. The military operations conducted by the Azerbaijani Army in 2020 and 2023 demonstrated the highest standards and exemplary behaviour in terms of compliance with international humanitarian law. No cases of deliberate shelling of civilians or collateral damage to civilians and facilities have been recorded," Hajiyev wrote.

Hajiyev underscored that a strong Azerbaijani military not only acts as a deterrent against potential threats but also plays a crucial role in maintaining peace and stability in the region.