Share :

Download PDF :

Vestnik Kavkaza (1 January 2019)

Year 2018 was a successful year for Azerbaijan, the republic's president Ilham Aliyev said in his message of congratulation on the occasion of the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and New Year.

The Azerbaijani president noted that the republic made very serious steps in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 2018. "As you know, the regime of criminal and corrupt junta, which remained in power in Armenia for 20 years, has collapsed and this represents a complete failure of Armenia's aggressive policy against Azerbaijan," he said.

At the same time, the Azerbaijani leader stressed that the republic will remain committed to its principled position on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "Our position is fair. It is fully consistent with the norms and principles of international law. Nagorno-Karabakh is ancient Azerbaijani land. The whole world recognizes the territorial integrity of our country. The Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be resolved only within the territorial integrity of our country. The resolutions of the UN Security Council must be fully implemented and the occupying forces must unconditionally withdraw from our lands," Ilham Aliyev stressed.

According to the president, Azerbaijan's strong military potential is a key factor for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "In recent years, we have significantly enhanced our military power. Today, the Azerbaijani army is among the strongest armies in the world... The Azerbaijani army has the most modern weapons and equipment, a very high combat potential, and we proved this again this year. The Azerbaijani army has carried out a successful operation in the Nakhchivan direction of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border and is now in control of 11,000 hectares of land. The takeover of strategic heights enables us to exercise full control over important communications and routes passing through Armenia," he added.

He also noted that a great deal has been done for the IDPs this year. Ilham Aliyev noted that new homes and apartments for 5,800 IDP families were built and made available to them. "This is a record figure in recent years. A total of 626 apartments were given to martyr families and those handicapped in the Karabakh war, and we will continue this policy next year," AzerTAc cited the Azerbaijani head of state as saying.

http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/Ilham-Aliyev-Azerbaijan-makes-serious-steps-in-settlement-of-Nagorno-Karabakh-conflict-in-2018.html