Vision of Ilham Aliyev – Karabakh is Azerbaijan
Karabakh is Azerbaijan
On May 28, 1918 Muhammad Amin Rasulzada laid the foundations of First Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan declared its independence from the Soviet Union.
Azerbaijan was 1st secular democratic state
Republic of Azerbaijan was the first secular democratic state in the Muslim East granting equal rights to men and women including allowing women to cast their votes. Nowadays May 28, is observed as a national holiday in Azerbaijan to commemorate sacrifices of their ancestors and celebrate independence.
Soviet Union Occupation
Soviet invasion of Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan in 1920 led to long occupation until Soviet Union collapsed. Azerbaijan restored its independence in 1991.
Independence and Crises
The years of 1991-1993 was not heartwarming for Azerbaijan. There was crisis in the government, the country was on the verge of civil war and faced the peril of losing independence.
Heydar Aliyev became leader of modern Azerbaijan
The people of Azerbaijan demanded to bring Heydar Aliyev to power, and the then leaders of Azerbaijan were obliged to officially invite Heydar Aliyev to Baku. On June 15, 1993, Heydar Aliyev was elected chairman of the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan, and on June 24, by a resolution of the National Assembly, he proceeded to fulfil the authorities of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
On October 3, 1993, as a result of the nationwide vote, Heydar Aliyev was elected President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. However, Azerbaijan’s Western neighbor Armenia’s military was encroaching to take control of Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region.
Battle between South Caucasian states
Eventually Yerevan illegally occupied twenty percent of Azerbaijan’s sovereign territory. The War broke out in 1988 and caused irreparable damage to Azerbaijan. On February 25 and 26, 1992 Armenian occupation forces carried out massacre in Khojaly.
Destruction by Armenia
Other notable events include cultural genocide by deliberately destroying “Bread Museum,” damaging Juma Masjid, house of Khurshidbanu Natavan in Shusha. These incidents are tip of the iceberg. Armenian forces occupied 73 percent of Aghdam in 1993, killed and force expelled thousands of others from their homes.
Rebuilding of a nation
After the Independence, Heydar Aliyev, father of Modern-Day Azerbaijani Nation led the country to utilize nation’s resources and rebuild the country, unite the nation under one flag and one cause. Heydar Aliyev set the direction of independent foreign policy of the newly independent state.
Ilham Aliyev a visionary leader
In 2020, Armenian policymakers believed global pandemic best suits its heinous designs to wage undeclared war as European Union (EU), United States (US) and Azerbaijan itself was taking measures to prevent Covid-19. President Ilham’s timely efforts to ensure national security by modernizing national armed forces proved cost-effective.
Armenian failure
Azerbaijan’s armed forces under President Ilham Aliyev thwarted Armenian armed aggression, bombardments on Azerbaijani cities, attempts to violate territorial integrity by forcefully annex Azerbaijan’s sovereign territories.
Violation of UN Charter by Armenia
Yerevan violated United Nations (UN) Charter in the light of newly designed military war-fighting strategy. Lieutenant General Movses Hakobian’s idea of “security belt” provided new impetus to Yerevan’s desires to illegally and illegitimately annex sovereign territories of Azerbaijan.
It was part of systemic attempts to directly use force in pursuit to subjugate Azerbaijan’s political independence, undermine sovereign status in grave violation of Article 51 of the UN.
Azerbaijan in the light of UN Charter to raise arms in self defense repelled enemy forces and liberated occupied territories. President of Azerbaijan and Vice President, dressed up in military uniforms to boost the morale of the nation. Entire nation was united.
Azerbaijan’s forces moral was high
High morale plays a great role in winning a war because every soldier goes with the energy and believe that they will outcast their foes. Azerbaijan’s determination and courage was much higher than before and it was also strong militarily.
This war lasted for about six weeks, not only the regular army of Azerbaijan participated in this war, but every child, old and young people, even the women of the Azerbaijan became a soldier.
War crimes of Armenian forces
Armenian forces continued their war crimes including use of banned cluster bombs, phosphorous, destroyed wine-yards, scorched forests, fired indiscriminate rockets, targeted urban centers with ballistic missiles to kill unarmed civilian population.
Acts of vandalism by Armenia
Acts of vandalism were unearthed at the end of Forty-four Days War. Armenian forces planted thousands of banned land mines prior to withdrawing occupied territories. Land mines have caused deaths of civilians and journalists.
Russian negotiated agreement was signed after Azerbaijani forces took control of strategically significant, the Jewel of Karabakh Shusha. During this war international institutions remained silent as usual, Instead Amnesty International accused Azerbaijan of using cluster bombs in violation of international law.
France, member of MINSK Group created by Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) had to remain neutral. However, it provided military aid and sided with the aggressor.
Azerbaijan’s victory
Despite all these tactics, Azerbaijan defeated Armenia and freed all important territories, including Karabakh and Shusha from Armenian occupation.
Karabakh is an internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan and there are about four UN resolutions on it. Ilham Aliyev fulfilled his father’s dream of taking back Karabakh and Shusha.
Younger generation that heard stories of Karabakh from their elders were eager to visit the area. Victory of Azerbaijan was a lesson for Azerbaijan that it cannot ignore its national security and aggression from bellicose neighbor.
It will have to prepare its forces to get ready for undeclared wars. Further, self-help is necessary to preserve its national security.
