Baku: On October 2, 2020, President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan was interviewed by Al Jazeera TV, addressing the ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The interview shed light on Azerbaijan’s stance regarding the prolonged conflict, with President Aliyev attributing the lack of resolution primarily to Armenia’s refusal to engage in peace and adhere to international resolutions.
According to Trend News Agency, President Aliyev emphasized that Armenia’s reluctance to change the status quo and their failure to comply with United Nations Security Council resolutions from 1993 has prolonged the conflict. He criticized the Minsk Group’s lack of effective facilitation in resolving the issue and called for international sanctions on Armenia to enforce compliance.
President Aliyev asserted that while Azerbaijan has broad international support in terms of legal norms, practical pressure on Armenia is lacking. He expressed concern over Armenia’s military provocations, such as the attacks in July 2020 on Azerbaijani territories, which he believes were intended to disrupt negotiations entirely.
Discussing the potential for peace, President Aliyev maintained that Azerbaijan’s position is consistent with international law, demanding the withdrawal of Armenian military forces from occupied territories. He reiterated that the conflict must be resolved based on Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, as recognized globally.
When asked about potential negotiations with Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, President Aliyev indicated that the Armenian leader’s statements and actions have undermined the negotiation process. He criticized Pashinyan’s preconditions for negotiations and dismissed them as provocations intended to halt progress.
Addressing the possibility of Russian mediation, President Aliyev acknowledged Russia’s role as a regional power and its potential to facilitate discussions alongside the United States and France if neutrality is maintained. He emphasized that any mediation should not be biased to ensure its acceptability.
In response to international calls for a ceasefire, President Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan is not ignoring these appeals but insists that Armenia must commit to withdrawing from occupied territories for a ceasefire to be effective. He rejected Armenia’s territorial claims and underscored Azerbaijan’s determination to reclaim its lands.
President Aliyev dismissed allegations of Turkish military involvement and the presence of Syrian fighters in Azerbaijan as baseless, urging for evidence to support such claims. He highlighted the need for Armenia to be held accountable for introducing foreign mercenaries into the conflict.
The interview concluded with President Aliyev reaffirming Azerbaijan’s readiness for diplomacy, contingent upon Armenia’s compliance with international law and withdrawal from occupied territories, as a pathway to restore Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.