Baku: The restoration of Azerbaijan’s state sovereignty has opened new opportunities for ensuring lasting peace, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement marking September 20 – State Sovereignty Day, APA reports.
According to Azeri-Press news agency, the ministry noted that September 20 is a historic date on which Azerbaijan’s state sovereignty was fully restored. The statement highlighted that on September 19-20, 2023, Azerbaijan conducted local anti-terror measures in the Karabakh region to disarm and remove the remnants of the Armenian armed forces from the country’s territory. As a result of the measures, which were completed in less than 24 hours, state sovereignty over Azerbaijan’s territories was ensured.
The ministry emphasized the decisive political will and leadership of President and Victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, alongside the professionalism, courage, and heroism of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, which played a crucial role in securing this historic victory. The statement also highlighted Azerbaijan’s focus on protecting civilians during the operations, targeting only the legitimate military facilities and infrastructure of illegal armed formations.
The restoration of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty has created a new political reality in the region, opening fresh opportunities for normalizing Azerbaijan-Armenia relations and establishing lasting peace. The ministry described the August 8, 2025 meeting in Washington, involving the leaders of Azerbaijan, the United States, and Armenia, as a significant milestone in the peace and normalization process.
The statement stressed the importance of restoring regional economic and trade ties, implementing confidence-building measures, and promoting the integration of international transport and logistics routes to create new economic benefits and opportunities for cooperation. Additionally, it highlighted the need to resolve outstanding issues necessary to sign a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia and fully normalize bilateral relations.
Azerbaijan is undertaking extensive reconstruction projects in the liberated territories, facilitating the return of former internally displaced persons to their native lands, and supporting the sustainable development of these areas. Mine clearance and determining the fate of missing persons remain among the country’s main priorities.
The statement concluded with a declaration of Azerbaijan’s state sovereignty as eternal, indivisible, and inviolable, celebrating State Sovereignty Day in Azerbaijan.