(MENAFN- AzerNews) As the saying goes, you are what you do, not what you say you'll
do. If your words do not match your actions, you are not leading,
you are talking.
As always, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has delivered on
his another solemn promise, that is to ensure security of the
nation's strategic district ahead of the planned relocation of
former IDPs back to their ancestral land.
On March 30, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry made the day of
the nation with a brief but important report about yet another
successful operation of the army in bringing back under control
previously occupied by Armenia territories.
The ministry said that following the commissioning of the new
Lachin road, several high grounds between Jaghazur and Zabukh
villages of Lachin District, main and auxiliary roads, as well as
large areas along the border were taken under the control of the
Azerbaijan Army units. The liberation of strategically important
heights in Lachin on the border with Armenia creates pivotal
opportunities for the Azerbaijani army. Thus, from Lachin District
- the nation's gate –the Azerbaijani power-wielding structures will
be able to monitor the movements of the Armenian army.
The successful operation will also provide the national army
with the opportunity to successfully neutralize terrorist groups in
the area and cement the inviolability of borders. This operation is
in line with Azerbaijan's plan to erect customs posts and apply
customs procedural rules on the border with Armenia.
The stealthy footsteps of today's victory on the border could be
traced in the Azerbaijani president's speech on March 28 when he
named his special representative for Lachin District where the
nation's armed forces are implementing huge activities to restore
security along the borders ahead of the realization of the Great
Return project – the return of the IDPs back to their homes after
the 30-year-long thirst for the lands where they were born and
lived.
Lachin as one of the largest districts of Azerbaijan has
tremendous potential, the president told the meeting with his
special representative, adding that former IDPs who will return to
Lachin District should live comfortably in Lachin, and the state of
Azerbaijan will provide all the necessary conditions.
“Lachin District was under occupation for 28 years, and during
this period, almost the entire infrastructure of the district was
destroyed by Armenia. Great damage was caused to the environment.
In general, as a result of illegal exploitation of our forest fund,
60,000 hectares of our forests were destroyed, cut, looted, and
sold by the Armenians,” President Ilham Aliyev said.
Contrary to all international laws and principles, Armenians
conducted a policy of illegal settlement in Lachin, and Armenians
from abroad were resettled in several villages of Azerbaijanis.
Azerbaijan regained Lachin both on the battlefield and by political
means as the liberation of the district was one of the priority
tasks.
France under fire
Now the defunct OSCE Minsk Group again came under the
president's criticism at the meeting. Throughout many years of
negotiations, the OSCE mediators always showed a special approach
to Lachin. On the whole, Armenia considered the return of Lachin
District to Azerbaijan unacceptable.
The mediators, the former Minsk Group of the OSCE, actually
tried to solidify this occupation by conducting negotiations, the
Azerbaijani leader said, adding that everything become clear now –
France's unfair and prejudiced attitude towards Azerbaijan is not
accidental.
“They simply tried to cover it up to some extent during the
occupation. They simply wanted to misguide us. But notice the ugly
acts that have been committed against us in the two and a half
years since the Second Karabakh War. Note the baseless accusations
that have been made against us. In other words, all this is
obvious, including a series of resolutions adopted by the European
Parliament against Azerbaijan, which are still the products of the
pro-Armenian, corrupt anti-Azerbaijani group, and French
parliamentarians are playing the leading role here. Of course, we
felt this during the occupation too, but not to such an obvious
extent. We could not even imagine that countries can be so
hypocritical and deceitful. They can look into your eyes and say
one thing, but do the exact opposite behind your back,” the
president said.
The president urged international actors to repulse Armenian
lies and be honest about who is a warmonger in the South Caucasus,
pledging to lead the nation toward new heights.
So the whole world could see everything again over the past two
and a half years. At the same time, the anti-Azerbaijani forces
could see our unbending resolve. No one can influence our resolve.
No one can speak to us in the language of ultimatums. We proved
this to Armenia in the Second Karabakh War, and we also proved it
to Armenia's patrons during the two and a half-years after the war.
We defeated them and showed the whole world again that we can and
we will achieve what we want.
Lachin's security tops the government's
agenda
The history of Lachin District should certainly serve as a
lesson in many cases.
From now on, ensuring the security of Lachin district and
returning the displaced people there as soon as possible are
priority tasks for us, Ilham Aliyev said, adding that all
engineering and fortification work in Lachin District along the
border with Armenia has almost been completed and the March 30
report of the Defense Ministry once again proves the leader's
determination to accomplish the mission.
Roads that never existed there have been built, the president
said, adding that 100 km of local roads in Lachin and Kalbajar
districts, as well as the roads leading to military positions, have
been built.
We have acquired very favorable positions in the direction of
the Azerbaijan-Armenia border, we are reinforcing ourselves in
these positions, and we will remain in these positions. Of course,
other steps and measures are being taken for the security of Lachin
district. These measures will allow our returning compatriots the
opportunity to live there comfortably and safely, the leader
added.
The wind energy potential of Lachin &
Kalbajar
Lachin and Kalbajar districts have immense wind energy potential
and it should reach 500 megawatts in the future and enable
Azerbaijan to create a large energy capacity using the water
resources.
Now the construction of hydropower plants is going fast in
Lachin, Kalbajar, Zangilan, and several other districts to total
overall amount to 50 megawatts of energy. On the whole, the goal
has been set that the hydropower plants in the liberated areas
should provide a capacity of 200 megawatts by the end of this
year.
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