LACHIN, Azerbaijan, May 28. The participation of my dear brothers – the President of Türkiye and the Prime Minister of Pakistan – alongside us in these celebratory events, and the support and solidarity shown to us, have created completely new realities on a global scale. Our strength lies in our unity, said President Ilham Aliyev during his speech before the concert dedicated to May 28 – Independence Day, held in the city of Lachin, Trend reports.
Speech by President Ilham Aliyev
- Dear President of Türkiye, my dear brother Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,
Dear Prime Minister of Pakistan, my dear brother Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif,
Distinguished guests, dear residents of Lachin,
First of all, I would like to congratulate all the Azerbaijani people on the occasion of Independence Day. I would like to welcome the leaders of Türkiye and Pakistan, who have joined us on this holiday, as well as the guests who have come to Azerbaijan together with them.
Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Pakistan—three brotherly nations—continue to strengthen their cooperation year after year, day by day. We are always by each other's side in good times and in challenges. We show solidarity and support. Today, our strategic cooperation was once again reaffirmed at the second trilateral Summit. Holding this ceremony here in Lachin, East Zangezur—a region liberated from occupation—and in the presence of the leaders of two brotherly countries is further evidence of the unity and brotherhood of Azerbaijan-Türkiye-Pakistan.
The fact that we are together, especially in this region, in the city of Lachin, which was under occupation for 30 years, carries great symbolism. During the 44-day Second Karabakh War, Türkiye and Pakistan supported us. The support of Türkiye and Pakistan inspired us and gave us additional strength. We are always grateful to the leaders of brotherly countries and fraternal peoples for this great political and moral support.
Today, we are opening a new chapter in our trilateral cooperation. I am sure that the issues we discussed today and the agreements we reached will bring us even closer to each other.
Exactly 107 years ago, the first democratic republic in the Muslim world, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, was established. This was a landmark historical event. Regrettably, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic had a short lifespan. Two years later, in April 1920, our independence was taken from us. A few months later, in November 1920, the West Zangezur region was separated from Azerbaijan and annexed to Armenia by Soviet Russia. This was a great injustice, and the Azerbaijani people have faced similar injustices throughout their history. However, the resolve of our people and the support of our brotherly nations gave us strength, inspired us, and strengthened our will.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Azerbaijan regained its state independence. However, Armenia's aggressive policy brought immense tragedies to Azerbaijan. Four months after the declaration of independence, the Armenian state committed genocide against our people. As a result of the Khojaly genocide, 613 innocent people, including 106 women and 63 children, were brutally killed in one night. Seven months after the declaration of independence, Lachin was subjected to Armenian occupation. Before that, the city of Shusha was occupied. Armenia's policy of aggression continued after that as well. Due to the support of foreign countries, approximately 20 percent of the territory of Azerbaijan was subjected to Armenian occupation, 100,000 Azerbaijanis from the Karabakh and East Zangezur regions were subjected to ethnic cleansing and began to live as refugees and displaced persons.
The Azerbaijani state and people never put up with this injustice, this occupation. We gathered strength and secured stronger positions on the international stage. We carried out our just cause within the framework of international organizations. All leading international organizations established a political and legal framework for resolving the conflict by recognizing Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. At the same time, we built a strong economy and, as a result, allocated the necessary amount of funds for the army. Strong political will, a strong economy, and a strong army are the key factors that led us to Victory.
At the same time, we conditioned our Victory by raising a new generation of young people in the spirit of patriotism, attached to their nation and land. During the 44-day Second Karabakh War, we moved forward every single day. We did not take a single step back. We liberated more than 300 cities and villages from Armenian invaders on the battlefield. In particular, the cities of Jabrayil, Hadrut, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Gubadli, and Shusha were liberated from the invaders on the battlefield. After our Shusha Victory on November 8, 2020, the mood of surrender in the Armenian army increased even more, and on the next day, in the early hours of November 10, Armenia was forced to sign the act of capitulation, the act of surrender. As a result, Lachin, Kalbajar and Aghdam were liberated from the occupiers without a single shot being fired. This glorious history of ours changed the geopolitical situation in our region, created new realities, and every country had to come to terms with these new realities. Our one-day anti-terrorist operation in 2023 fully restored our state sovereignty, and separatism was once and for all eradicated in Azerbaijan.
Restoration and construction efforts are now underway across all our liberated lands. Major infrastructure projects are underway - hospitals, schools, three airports have been built, railways and highways have been laid, and the construction of about 70 kilometers of tunnels is progressing rapidly. Today, our guests were acquainted with some of the work underway in the liberated lands. 43,000 people already live and work in our East Zangezur and Karabakh regions. Life has returned to this region, the true owners of this region have returned. We had to return, and return we did. We have defeated the Armenian army, and the Azerbaijani people are proud of this. For more than four years now, we have been living as a victorious people and state, and will live like that forever. Today, the participation of my dear brothers, the President of Türkiye and the Prime Minister of Pakistan, in these celebrations along with us, the support and solidarity shown to us, are already creating a completely new reality worldwide. Our strength lies in our unity. Today, we have once again confirmed our unity in a trilateral format. The songs that will be performed at the celebration concert today will once again show our unity and demonstrate how rich our culture is. I am confident that the messages that the three countries are sending to the world today from liberated Lachin will reach the right addressees.
Let me once again welcome President of Türkiye, my dear brother Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Pakistan, my dear brother Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, and all the guests who have come with them. I greet the people of Lachin from the bottom of my heart. May Allah always open our skies and paths. Victory is ours and will remain so.
Long live the unity and brotherhood of Azerbaijan-Türkiye-Pakistan!