BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 22. During the years of independence, our young people who grew up in the spirit of patriotism were ready to embrace death for the sake of the Motherland, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said, addressing the V Congress of World Azerbaijanis in Shusha city, Trend reports.
“I have repeatedly said, including at the congresses of
World Azerbaijanis held after the first Congress, that we will
never put up with this occupation, we will liberate our ancestral
lands from occupation at any cost. But I really wanted this issue
to be resolved peacefully, not through war. Because I believed that
this issue could be resolved peacefully. The norms and principles
of international law supported the position of our country. The
world's leading international organizations adopted decisions and
resolutions in support of Azerbaijan's position and based on
justice. Armenia's policy of aggression was no longer a secret to
anyone in the world. At the same time, after the balance of power
between Azerbaijan and Armenia had changed dramatically in our
favor, I thought that the Armenian leadership would finally realize
that they had no resources to compete with us – political, economic
or human. I thought that Armenia would finally come to its senses
and understand that in a 21st-century world it is impossible to
occupy a large part of the territory of a neighboring state.
Unfortunately, the Armenian leadership, as well as the
international community and international organizations, were of a
different opinion, and the long negotiations, which lasted almost
30 years, were simply aimed at perpetuating this occupation,
covering up Armenia's policy of aggression and making us come to
terms with this bitter situation. Of course, we could never agree
to that, and our resolve, determination and heroism on the
battlefield proved this again. We didn’t wage war only with
Armenia. We didn’t wage war only with the Armenians of the world,
we fought against Armenia’s patrons, and we have won this war.
Therefore, the historic significance of this victory is even
greater. We have proved that we are ready to die. We would rather
die than back down. During the years of independence, our young
people who grew up in the spirit of patriotism were ready to
embrace death for the sake of the Motherland,” said the head of
state.