Speech by Ilham Aliyev at the opening ceremony of a new settlement for IDP families in the region of Agdam

Dear friends, dear sisters and brothers!

I greet you all cordially. I congratulate you on the occasion of opening of this new and nice settlement. Our fellow countrymen will live temporarily in this nice settlement. All conditions are created her. Up to 700 new and splendid houses are built here. This nice school, medical center, town hall center – everything is created here for life. This is not first such type of settlement. It is already the 17th settlement. I am very pleased that the majority of Agdam population stays and lives in the territory of Agdam region. I am confident that the larger number of Agdam residents will come to the region thanks to the conditions which will be created in the years to come. Currently, the refurbishment and reconstruction work is under way in the region. The large natural gas supplies program is under way. Infrastructure is being created. Today, I visited Agdam Regional Hospital. During previous visits, we noted Olympic Compound and Stadium inauguration. It means that we are striving to create the most modern conditions in the territory of Agdam region.

The Azerbaijani state does a lot of work and allocated big funds for the resolution of living problems of IDPs and refugees. We managed to complete this work at the expense of Azerbaijan’s State Oil Fund. Modern settlements are being constructed not only in Agdam, but also in all other regions. Yesterday, I participated at the opening of 10 five storey living mansions in Yevlakh region.

It means that during two days, 1300 families were provided with modern houses and flats. We carried out such work also in previous periods of time. Thanks to this work done, almost 90 thousand IDPs were provided with a new house. There are already three years that there is no any tent camp in Azerbaijan. We eliminate these camps now. It is being replaced by such nice and attractive houses.

Our program envisages even greater work to be carried out in next years. We will provide such nice living conditions also for those our compatriots that stay temporarily in Finnish houses, schools, military base territories and hostels. But, I reiterate always and would like to say it again today that this is a temporary place of staying. After the liberation of Agdam city, other villages and those which are under occupation now, we will conduct a big work there. We will rebuild Agdam city.

We will build more attractive and beautiful buildings there.

Here, restoration and reconstruction work carried out in the regions of Agdam, Fizuli and the city of Horadiz which were occupied by Armenian in the past and liberated by Azerbaijani Army in 1994, demonstrate that we will mobilize our force to solve any issue. It will go the same way as we did for Horadiz by carrying out restoration work and creating excellent conditions. Equally, we will carry out rehabilitation work in all other territories remaining still under occupation. We will also rebuild the city of Agdam because back in 2005, by our initiative OSCE Fact Finding Mission seconded to the occupied areas reflected its findings in the report, and those photos, video materials demonstrate what Armenians did to Agdam.

Recently, again on our initiative, OSCE Fact Finding Mission visited occupied regions, including the city of Agdam and seen once again the barbarity of Armenians once again. No single building is left safe in Agdam. All buildings are destroyed and plundered. Armenian plunderers and stealers have taken away and plundered all goods from buildings.

Therefore, following our return to those areas and Agdam, we will restore our splendid historical city. We will have enough courage and will to do that. I hope that we will restore fully in the short period of time Agdam and our other cities which remain under occupation today.

Our cause is right one. We will restore our territorial integrity. Our territorial integrity is recognized by the entire world.

When Azerbaijan rejoiced its independence and became the member of United Nations Organization, our country’s territorial integrity was recognized even at that time.

Today, there is no a single state in the world which did not recognize territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. This is a very important issue. Sometimes, it seems to us that it does not find its resolution even in the case when international law norms are in our favor. This is true. We are very disappointed and frustrated of that fact.

However, international law is the main prerequisite for the resolution of any issue in fair manner and in the framework of law. International community lives on the basis of international law. Therefore, though the decisions and resolutions of international organizations which foster our positions are not implemented yet, it does not lose its importance. We strive to increase further international attention to the Karabakh issue. It means that this issue should not be dropped of international agenda, be kept in memories and on agenda of international organizations on constant basis. Our diplomatic and political efforts are aimed to hit this target and we have succeeded to do it.

Today, leading worldwide international organizations confirm the right cause of Azerbaijan by its decisions and resolutions. United Nations Organization, Organization of Islamic Conference, the Council of Europe, OSCE, the European Parliament – all of them are leading worldwide organizations. Azerbaijani position is reflected in resolutions of these organizations and based upon international law.

We will continue our efforts to foster political-legal and diplomatic background. Besides that, we will continue successful policy pursued in Azerbaijan and increase our economic might. It could not be possible to build these settlements without economic capability. After war, we could complete some work thanks to the foreign assistance. However, the assistance has stopped. There are also some limits in the activities of international organizations and donors. It is not possible to get long term assistance from their side. If we would not create a strong economic potential, then we could not complete this work in a short period of time. We have managed to change radically the situation in our favor concerning the talks and the processes taking place in the region not just by completing this work but strengthening Azerbaijan.

Today, Azerbaijan is a fully independent country in economic and political aspects which is well respected and defines its policy.

We are not depending on anyone. In such case, we are able to pursue more flexible and free policy. We have created these realities.

Trying to impose itself as victorious party today, Armenia is lagging behind from Azerbaijan by 5 – 10 times in all parameters. What does this so-called victory mean?! If Armenian people lives in poverty, there is no any economic prospective. Foreign assistance, support and loans are brought by them to their country by begging for it. If they wouldn’t have it, Armenia could be in a very miserable situation. But, Azerbaijan lives on its own resources. Differing from Armenia, we increase our population, economy and military might. Today, Azerbaijani Army dominates strongly Armenian Army. We know it.

Armenians can say whatever they want by thousand times. There is no meaning in their words. If in 1992-1993, they would not have a foreign support, could they occupy our lands? Of course, no. We know well this history. As people who suffered from occupation, you know well that how our lands were occupied. On the one hand, inexperience authorities of Azerbaijan, internal fight for the power and on the other hand, our lands fell under occupation as a result of financial and military support extended to Armenians from abroad. Can anyone occupy the lands of Azerbaijan today?! Never! If Azerbaijan would have great leader Heydar Aliyev as a leader at that time, the lands of Azerbaijan could never be occupied. The historical time was lost. Chaos, anarchy, crisis, foreign intervention, paralyzed activities of local executive authorities, treason of political power and its fear have resulted by this situation.

However, today there is a completely different situation. Today, Azerbaijan is able to solve any issue in the region. No serious issue can be solved in the region without our consent.

As far as military potential is concerned, I have never denied it. Today again I would like to say it openly that we will continue our army building. We have created already a professional and strong army and purchased weaponry in large quantities. Our Army will act at any moment. We do not want to have war. But, we will never reconcile with this situation. Armenia knows and should know that our patience has also limits. Our patience is not an infinite one.

However, actions of Armenia demonstrate that this country does not want a peace. A peace wishing country should not declare that they change the name of Agdam. First of all, it is absolutely meaningless. Nobody can change the name of Agdam. In the past, all current Armenian cities had Azerbaijani names. Then, they have changed the names and became Armenian ones. Starting from Irevan till Goycha lake, including Zanghezur, Jalaloglu, the names of all these cities are linked to the Azerbaijani people. Armenians were moved to our territory. We know it well. Then, those regions became Armenian and today we want to rename Agdam. I would like to say once again that a peace wishing country would never do such murky things. In addition, this is absolutely meaningless. In the past, they attempted to rename the regions of Lachyn and Kelbajar. Who accepted new names? Nobody except them. They have never called Lachyn and Kelbajar using those false names. We do not have those false names in negotiations process.

Kelbajar and Lachyn regions are shown by their original names in the documents discussed by Armenians. Such murky things demonstrate once again the ruse of Armenians. It shows that they do not want to have a normal relationship with their neighbors in South Caucasus. They wish to continue their occupational policy and maintain the current status. But, they should ask themselves are they strong enough? No! Azerbaijan is not already the same country as it was in early 90-ies. It does look so neither demographically, nor from the point of view of might and will.

I do not doubt that we will restore our territorial integrity and our citizens will return to their native lands of ancestors. A new life will start at those lands. Cities will be restored. Those regions and lands remaining currently under occupation will prosper as other regions of our country. I believe in that, do not doubt it and all of use should bring that day closer by our work. This settlement is the result and symbol of that policy. I greet you all cordially once again. I am very happy to be in our native Karabakh soil and I wish you good health and happiness.