Ali Hasanov: Armenia can bring only misfortunes to its people
AThis was stated by Azerbaijani President’s Assistant for Public and Political Affairs Ali Hasanov, on November 26 at the official opening ceremony of the ninth Bosphorus Summit in Istanbul, held under the motto "Sustaining Peace and Development for All".
Speaking about the bitter realities of our time, he noted that some states did not choose the path to achieve sustainable development in terms of cooperation, but, on the contrary, the path of capture, aggression and armament.
He noted that this tragedy has existed in the South Caucasus for about 30 years.
The invasion policy pursued by Armenia in the early years of independence, its territorial claims to Azerbaijan without any historical and legal right led to the occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories. As a result, over one million Azerbaijani citizens became refugees and internally displaced people, said Hasanov.
"An OSCE assessment mission confirmed that Azerbaijani ancient religious and historical monuments were mercilessly destroyed on these lands. More than 10 countries and numerous international structures recognized the Khojaly Genocide committed against Azerbaijanis," Hasanov added.
He noted that the NagornoKarabakh conflict threatens not only the fragile peace in the South Caucasus but also the security of Europe and the entire world.
“This is due to non-recognition of international law, territorial integrity of other countries and peaceful appeals of religions, delusion of grandeur, claims to own territories from sea to sea, the use of any falsification and committing crimes against humanity for the sake of fulfilling this claim,” he said.
"Despite the fact of aggression, today, thanks to the policy of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan has been able to ensure not only its dynamic development but also became a country playing a special role in the economic and cultural integration of Europe and the Middle East, ensuring Europe’s energy security," he stressed.
Hasanov added that the global projects which the Azerbaijani state implements with its partners are not only communication projects and energy security projects, they are making a great contribution to security, connect the continents and update geo-economic map of the world.
"As President Aliyev said, all member countries, especially neighboring states, benefit from projects initiated by Azerbaijan. It is enough to recall the benefits that the recently commissioned STAR refinery will bring. However, the criminal regime of Armenia a medieval usurper who wants to enrich himself in an easier way - by occupying foreign lands -- is now isolated from all the regional initiatives. The military junta, which has embarked on a military path, can bring its people not prosperity, but only a misfortune, which once again confirms the example of Armenia," he said.
Hasanov noted that Azerbaijan is distinguished by its activity in peacekeeping operations in the region, the country is an active participant in the cooperation programs of NATO, the EU, OSCE and CIS.
"Azerbaijan is developing cooperation with all its neighbors in bilateral and multilateral cooperation, except for aggressive Armenia. Of course, if there was no military aggression against our territorial integrity and our financial and human resources would not be directed at eliminating occupation, then Azerbaijan and the region would be at another level," he said.
At the end of his speech, Hasanov stressed that Azerbaijan wants to see such a region, such a world that people with the same or similar culture are not forced to choose the path of migration, remain in their historical lands, live and develop.
Furthermore, Hasanov added that everyone must have the courage to say "no" to the aggressor, support all initiatives put forward in this direction, and unift the efforts.
He went on to say that for the past nine years, the Bosphorus Summit has been contributing to sustainable development for all, seeking peace.
"Turkey has done tremendous work in resolving conflicts, in restoring sustainable peace in the region. The policy of Turkey, which has become an important geopolitical actor of the world under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the peacekeeping operations conducted by it, tense diplomatic struggle are a great activity aimed at a fair resolution of conflicts in the region, as well as a fair resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. In this endeavor, we wish the success of fraternal Turkey," Hasanov concluded.