BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 22. We have proved that we are ready to die. We would rather die than back down, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said while delivering a speech at the 5th Congress of World Azerbaijanis in Shusha on April 22, 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.