President Ilham Aliyev said the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia was underway and expressed confidence that it would be long-term.
"Operative Information Center-OMM" reports that President Ilham Aliyev made the remarks on September 15 while receiving a delegation comprising Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States Kubanychbek Omuraliev, members and observers of the Council of Heads of Muslim Religious Administrations of the Organization of Turkic States, co-organizers of the Yahya Bakuvi International Conference, and members of the Supreme Religious Council of the Peoples of the Caucasus.
The president added that peace currently prevailed and the war had stopped:
"In any case, this is the position of the Azerbaijani state. However, we will never forget the atrocities committed against us and our people. We will not forget the victims of Khojaly, nor will we ever forget our destroyed mosques and desecrated cultural sites, and this memory will make us even more vigilant. This memory will prevent us from being deceived by sweet words again, and we will not allow any insidious plans against our people to succeed again. We must remain vigilant, and we are vigilant. At the same time, we are also strengthening our military power."
The head of state noted that it was precisely through military strength and the heroism of Azerbaijan's sons that Azerbaijan had driven Armenia's occupying army from its territories:
"Therefore, military-patriotic education has gained broad momentum in Azerbaijan today. Everyone can see that the world has changed completely and that the factor of power has come to the forefront. We did not put forward the principle that 'the stronger side is right.' But we must take existing realities into account, and of course, we do. We know that the only guarantee of our sovereignty, territorial integrity and our people's ability to live as a free and independent nation in the future is our will, determination and military strength, the unity of our people as one fist, our faith and our national values."
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been engaged in a peace process following years of conflict. The parties' discussions have focused on establishing lasting peace, recognizing sovereignty and territorial integrity, and preventing a renewed escalation.
