(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Elnur Enveroglu read more The question of why Karabakh has long been an apple of discord
in relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia does not need extra
explanation apart from the latter's thirst for the seizure of the
neighbor's historical lands. For over a century, Armenians have
been plotting unthinkable ways of seizing Karabakh though each of
their attempts has always backfired and cost dearly to Azerbaijan
both in terms of human lives and materially.
Notwithstanding Azerbaijan's numerous efforts to have regional
peace restored before the second Karabakh war of 2020, Armenia's
obstructionism left no other means than a military solution to the
conflict. Although Armenia suffered a crushing defeat, and
Azerbaijan's victory has altered the geopolitical picture in the
South Caucasus, no lasting peace has been established in the
region. Armenia is countering a peace deal despite Baku's goodwill
and is refusing to accept a five-point packet.
A peace treaty at this point seems unimaginable and the reasons
behind might be numerous though we are far away from listing them
all and this is impossible. However, some most important ones for
Armenia's reluctance to give up territorial claims on Karabakh seem
to be the backing of pro-Armenian forces behind Yerevan's
uncompromising and destructive position.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan though repeatedly and publicly
renounced claims on Azerbaijani lands, his verbal statements do not
go beyond that and each time Azerbaijan submits peace proposals,
they drag the process out or resort to unfounded pretexts to
torpedo the overall process.
Azerbaijan upholds maintaining an elusive yet important peace,
which is key for activating the process of integration of the
Armenian population in Karabakh. In view of new realities on the
ground, regardless of how Armenia will react in the next two years,
it should be borne in mind that a shrinking, albeit pre-existing,
space for discussing people-to-people reconciliation must be
restored at all costs.
Armenia is actually struggling against accepting the defeat and
is blinded by arrogance to digest and see the bare truth that has
been shaped by the post-2020 realities.
“If Armenia does not recognize our territorial
integrity, we will not recognize their territorial integrity
either. Armenia and the hypocritical countries behind it should
know what the result will be. They should know that no dirty plan
against us will work,” the Azerbaijani president said on March 18
in Karabakh.
President Ilham Aliyev's remark on Armenia's misbehavior is a
sharp message to those who are pushing and instigating political
unrest in the region. Unfortunately, Armenia is relying on its
so-called patrons, realizing that and is absolutely aware of the
fact that it is an instrument in the hands of big powers.
Malign neighborhood
The curiosity behind what is the reason that chums Iran and
Armenia in the region can be explained through Azerbaijan's
de-occupied territories, which were used for illegalities for 30
years by both malign neighbors.
By resisting the adoption of a resolution by the OSCE condemning
the terror attack on Azerbaijan's embassy in Tehran on January 27,
2023, Armenia once again showed that the policy of Iran and Armenia
is based on a dangerous neighborhood, and Yerevan manipulates OSCE
principles for its own favor.
Under Iran's patronage, Armenia is ready to act insanely which
contradicts the diplomatic rules. By doing so, Armenia demonstrates
its belligerent stance and inability to realize that such trivial
manoeuvres will change nothing for Azerbaijan.
Armenia refuses to observe its obligation
Armenia's chameleon-like political will can change according to
any situation. If Armenia cannot find a patron, it means that the
leadership of Armenia will have to buy time and come to terms with
the current situation temporarily. Of course, this is a tradition
that comes from Armenian morality.
President Ilham Aliyev's statement at the Ankara Summit
indicates the apostasy of the Armenian government.
“Although Armenia recognized Azerbaijan's
territorial integrity and sovereignty in Prague and Sochi in 2022,
it has not yet fully withdrawn its troops from the territory of
Azerbaijan. Illegal Armenian detachments and criminal elements
still remain in Karabakh.”
“Armenia also evades the obligation to open the
Zangazur corridor. Therefore, Armenia flagrantly violates the
statement signed on November 10, 2020, and should be held
accountable.” Aliyev underscored.”
Inability to discern right from wrong
Armenia could have supported Azerbaijan in the reconstruction of
ruined cities and villages rather than wasting time with its
malicious political course. However, demanding territory without
achieving anything by keeping Karabakh in ruins for 30 years is an
example of insolence on the part of Armenia.
Unfortunately, international organizations and their
representatives, who call Agdam Azerbaijan's Hiroshima, are yet
unable to clearly distinguish who is right and who is wrong. After
the occupation, Azerbaijan is building 300 villages and 9 new
cities from scratch as President Ilham Aliyev said at the Ankara
summit.
“We are building nine new cities and initially more
than 300 villages and towns from scratch. This is a rare and
unprecedented model of post-conflict reconstruction by a national
government using its own financial resources. In 2021-2022, the
state of Azerbaijan spent about $4bn on reconstruction in liberated
areas. This year, we plan to allocate at least
$1.7bn.”
To recap, Karabakh is being rebuilt and IDPs are returning back
to their homes, and the March 18 festivities in Talish village in
Karabakh, now fully rebuilt to say welcome to former inhabitants,
are proof of the determination of the Azerbaijani government to put
the whole of Karabakh irrespective of the ethnicities under solid
control once and for all.
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