The president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev delivered a speech in Shushi in front of the military. That PR move was obviously attached to the 2-nd ՞anniversary՞ of the end of the 44-day war. Aliyev talked about his country “teaching Armenia a lesson” both during the war and after it, referring to operations “Farrukh” and “Payback” and their attack on our borders which occurred this year on September 13-14.
According to Aliyev, Armenia had not fulfilled its obligations assumed on November 10, 2020 and did not completely withdraw its forces from Karabakh, as well as “did not provide a Zangezur corridor”.
He also reminded that the Russian peacekeepers are placed in Karabakh temporarily, according to the same three-sided agreement, and if Armenia proceeds to play with fire and count on others, another disaster is awaited. Azerbaijani president informed about the increase of their military budget, “as the revanchist forces have arisen in Armenia”.
In spite of this not being the first or last speech Aliyev gave, that contains threats, the context is crucial here. 10 days ago, a three-sided meeting took place in Sochi, which resulted in Putin, Pashinyan and also Aliyev signing an agreement, according to which the sides have particularly committed to refrain from using force or force threats. By openly threatening to apply force (and the gist of the Shushi speech was exactly that), Aliyev shows that he is not going to fulfill the points of the agreement, and on the contrary, intends on creating a “corridor” by applying force, and three years later, when the Russian peacekeepers leave, ethnic cleansing will be carried out in Artsakh.
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Of course, there is nothing new here. It is just astonishing that our government keeps talking about “pushing about the peace agenda”. Where are you pushing? Which direction? Clearly, the negotiations in all levels and places around the world should be carried on. But the internal audience should not be misled that a peace treaty will be signed and a “peace era” will follow. That’s an illusion. Regardless of the agreement, even if it contains all the needs Azerbaijan currently has, our neighbouring country will come up with new threats and needs the very next day. People should not be brainwashed that “the good America will take matters from bad Russia into their own hands, and we will be rescued”. Or vice versa – “good Russia from bad America”. Our only rescue is the Armenian army, developed economy and permanent mobilization of the society.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
