Towards More Sustainable Victories

“Victory Day” for all the people of Azerbaijan began on November 8, 2020. This once again proved the strength and pride of the victorious Azerbaijani Army, which lived in the history of Azerbaijan's statehood and demonstrated to the whole world.

Our efforts to liberate our native Karabakh, which we have been longing for 30 years, resulted in counter-offensive operations, which began on September 27, and the “44-day Patriotic War”. Thus, the victorious Azerbaijani Army, implementing the known resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council in this direction, destroyed the Armenian armed forces and terrorist groups formed in Karabakh.

The cease-fire agreement came shortly after the liberation of Shusha, the historical, second-largest city in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, by the Azerbaijani armed forces, and the deal took effect on Tuesday at 1 p.m. local time. There was no way out for Armenia but to accept the defeat, as Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyanpointed out. The Armenian government, therefore, admitted defeating and officially ended the conflict.

The great victory of our brave Army under the leadership of the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev in the new history of Azerbaijan under the name of Operation “Iron Fist” is a clear confirmation of the military power of the modern Azerbaijani state and the determination of the Azerbaijani people. At the same time, this victory, along with the mighty Army, demonstrated the economic and political will of Azerbaijan to the whole world.

From the first days of the Great Patriotic War, the Azerbaijani people felt the support of Turkey. The support of brother country, Turkey is one of the decisive factors in determining the outcome of the war. Along with Turkey, countries such as Pakistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Serbia, Great Britain, as well as a number of influential international organizations - the UN General Assembly, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and others They supported the inviolability of our borders, our sovereignty and the territorial integrity of our country.
The political and diplomatic activity of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, who commanded the army during the war and defined its strategy and tactics with high professionalism, also led to victory in the information war. President Ilham Aliyev's unparalleled bravery on the information front, as well as his interviews with the world's leading media during and after the war, have changed the international community's view on the conflict.

I would also like to note that the glorious victory we achieved in the Second Karabakh-Patriotic War under the leadership of Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev laid the foundation for a new era of development in Azerbaijan. This victory has formed a completely new factor of economic development in our country over the past year, with a serious impact on the peace and economic development of Azerbaijan, as well as the entire region. At the same time, the rapid restoration and construction work taking place in our native Karabakh today demonstrates to the whole world that the state and people of Azerbaijan are heralds of peace, tranquility and sustainable development in the world, especially in the South Caucasus.
Mr. President's regular visits to the liberated territories are a clear proof of this.

Injustice vs. Cultutral Resrtoration

For Azerbaijan, the another most important gain is the liberation of Shusha, known as pearl and the cultural center of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Thus, immediately after victory, President Aliyev showcased it as “Cultural Capital” of the entire region. It was “massacred” and illegally “captured” by Armenia on May 8, 1992.
During all these “painful” years, it has been “symbol” of “human resistance”, “purity”, “dignity”, “cultural diversity” and “peaceful struggle”.

The post-conflict plans of Azerbaijan attach a special importance to the restoration of the cultural and religious monuments destroyed and desecrated under Armenian control. Azerbaijan was outraged by the images of the historical mosques in the Karabakh region which had been turned into pigsties over the last three decades.
As a multi-faith country, Azerbaijan plans to restore not only the Muslim monuments but also those belonging to Christianity and other religions in the liberated territories.

UNESCO and other international organizations are invited by Azerbaijan both to assess the material damage inflicted by Armenia on the recently liberated territories and also to take part in the restoration of the cultural heritage.This comes against the background of disinformation campaigns claiming that the Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh will endanger the Christian heritage in the region.

After all works done it hopes that its natural beauty, museums, castles, roads, resorts, community centers, libraries, centers of learning, science and arts will be restored not only in Shusha, but all Karabakh. The cities will be again in the hearts of people and tourists alike in the days to come because cultural is eternal and conspiracy, conflict and contradiction is always short lived. These cities will again open their arms for all visitors and turn centers for culture and multiculturalism.

Today, A Year Passed Over “44 Days of Victory”.

Considering the most recent developments in the region, it is obvious that Azerbaijan is the victor, and this victory created the new realities. Armenia will now have to accept the new realities on the ground, which reflect the legal and legitimate claims of Azerbaijan. Thus, the only way to sustain the peace and security is to normalization and rapprochement to the cooperation opportunities in the ground.

Today, as a result of the unity of the Azerbaijani people like an “iron fist”, our proud and brave people will continue to unite closely around the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Ilham Aliyev, together with the Invincible Commander of Azerbaijan, and continue to fight for a greater Azerbaijan, continuing to write our new, glorious history.

Mezahir Efendiyev
Member of Milli Majlis