BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 27. The Azerbaijani
Army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron
Fist", on September 27, 2020, in response to the large-scale
provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline.
The 44-day second Karabakh war ended with the liberation of
Azerbaijan’s territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation
and the restoration of territorial integrity.
On September 27, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham
Aliyev chaired a meeting of the Security Council.
The head of state made a speech at the meeting.
Speech of President Ilham Aliyev:
- As you know, early this morning, Armenian armed forces
committed yet another military provocation against Azerbaijan. We
have losses as a result of this provocation, both among the
civilian population and servicemen. This once again shows that
Armenia's policy of aggression against Azerbaijan continues, and
this policy shows the fascist essence of Armenia to the whole
world.
As soon as I received the information in the morning, I
contacted the Minister of Defense and the heads of other relevant
agencies, gave relevant instructions, and on the basis of these
instructions, the Azerbaijani Army launched a large-scale
counter-offensive.
I must say that Armenia's military provocation was pre-planned.
They have been preparing for this provocation for a long time, and
the intelligence we have shows that Armenia intends to start a new
war against us. I have repeatedly talked about this issue in the
last week – both in my TV interview and from the UN platform. I
said that the aggressive state must be stopped. They are preparing
for a new war.
I addressed the people of Azerbaijan today. In my address, I
gave detailed information about the reasons for this provocation
and the ugly steps Armenia has been taking in recent times. I have
shared my views, so I do not want to repeat them. I simply want to
reiterate that the military attack on us early this morning was a
pre-planned military provocation. Because our positions were fired
on from various directions using different weaponry, including
heavy artillery. At the same time, our settlements and villages
were fired on. As I said, we have losses among the civilian
population. This once again shows the ugly face of Armenian
fascism. Because such atrocities against the civilian population
can only be attributed to fascist states, and this is not the first
time – the events in Tovuz and others. The Khojaly genocide was
committed by Armenian savages against the civilian population. This
time too, Armenia’s main target is our settlements. By opening
fire, they want to create panic among the Azerbaijani public, among
the citizens of Azerbaijan, in the villages and towns along the
frontline. This morning, I received information from all frontline
regions. I can say with full confidence that the citizens of
Azerbaijan are showing courage. Everyone is in their place and are
ready to support our army and state at any time, and they are doing
that.
The Azerbaijani Army is currently conducting a counter-offensive
in response to military provocation. I can say that the operation
has been successful. The Presidential Administration and the
Ministry of Defense have been instructed to keep the population
informed about the events on a regular basis. I can say that as a
result of the successful counter-offensive, the enemy's manpower
and military equipment were severely damaged. Several occupied
Azerbaijani settlements have been liberated. I congratulate all the
people of Azerbaijan on this occasion!
I am confident that our successful counter-offensive will end
the occupation! It will end injustice! It will end the occupation
that has lasted for nearly 30 years! Because the people of
Azerbaijan want to live on their lands. Azerbaijani citizen live
longing for his homeland. People who were forcibly driven out of
their ancestral lands by Armenians, by the Armenian leadership want
to return to their native lands even though their homes have
already been destroyed by savages. Look at the ruins of Aghdam.
Look at the ruins of Fuzuli. Look at the state of our mosques in
the occupied territories, the state of our cemeteries. All this was
committed by Armenian executioners, and we are absolutely right.
Our struggle is a struggle for justice, and the citizens of
Azerbaijan fully support the state today. We always feel this
support. A citizen of Azerbaijan is with the Azerbaijani Army, and
I turn to our compatriots who have not been able to return to their
native lands for almost 30 years and say that we will do our best
to return you to your native lands.
I warned Armenia. After the events in Tovuz, I warned them
several times that they would regret it if they did not give up
their ugly deeds. We taught them a lesson in 2016, in 2018, in July
of this year. But it did not seem to be a lesson for them. This
time we are teaching them another lesson and will continue to do
that. Today, the glorious Azerbaijani Army is conducting a
counter-offensive with great success, and this operation
continues.
I must also say that there is high morale in all our military
units and formations. At the same time, the number of volunteers
enlisted in our army has reached tens of thousands. This shows the
commitment of our people to their state.
The settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue is our historical
task. I have said this many times and I want to reiterate today
that we must resolve this issue in a way that would satisfy the
people of Azerbaijan. We must resolve this so that historical
justice can be restored. We must do so in order to restore the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
I have said in different countries many times that we do not
need an incomplete solution to this issue, to this conflict. We are
on our own lands, we have no claims to the lands of other
countries. But we will not give our lands to anyone either. We will
never allow for the creation of a second so-called Armenian state
on Azerbaijani soil. We will never allow that, and today's events
are showing that again.
Nagorno-Karabakh is our ancient and historical land. I have
repeatedly spoken at various international events on the history
and past of Nagorno-Karabakh. I have shared the historical truth
with the world community. As a result of our focused and tireless
efforts, the world has a broad picture of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict today. But in the first years of the conflict, this was
not the case. In the first years of the conflict, Armenians of the
world portrayed Azerbaijan as an aggressor. Unfortunately, those
who were in the leadership of Azerbaijan at that time could not
speak out against this propaganda. Azerbaijan was in such a
difficult situation: our lands were being lost but the world
thought that Azerbaijan was an aggressor. The cause of the loss of
Karabakh lands is the Popular Front Party, the Musavat Party of
Azerbaijan. It was during their time that our lands were occupied.
As a result of their treacherous and incompetent activities, we
lost these lands. I always said that we lost them temporarily and
that we must return to these lands. The sale of Shusha took place
only as a result of struggle for power at that time. The occupation
of Kalbajar and Lachin is the direct responsibility of the Popular
Front government of Azerbaijan. It was after this occupation that
the next occupation was almost inevitable. Because the occupation
of Lachin, Kalbajar and Shusha created a geographical link between
Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. This being the case, of course, the
supply of weapons to those regions, to Nagorno-Karabakh, and then
the supply of other material resources became easier.
Today, we are wiping out the incompetent actions of the Popular
Front Party of Azerbaijan and the Musavat Party, this stain on
Azerbaijan. Today we are restoring our lands. In 2016, part of
Aghdara, Fuzuli and Jabrayil districts were liberated from the
occupiers. Today, in 2020, I want to emphasize once again that
several of our settlements were liberated from the occupiers,
several strategic heights came under the control of Azerbaijan. A
strong Azerbaijani Army is based on a strong political will.
Army building is always the top priority of my activity. Both
the military and the Azerbaijani people know this. I have always
said that we will do whatever is necessary for our army. We have
created a powerful and strong-willed army. All our armed forces
meet modern standards and carry out combat missions with dignity,
conscience and courage. Today, our various armed units are involved
in the counter-offensive, and the counter-offensive is going well
under the leadership of a single team. There is full coordination
between all armed forces. I am confident that this
counter-offensive will continue to be successful.
By giving this information to the people of Azerbaijan, I want
to say once again that we are on the right path. We are defending
ourselves. We do not lay claim to anyone else's lands, Azerbaijani
armed forces have no targets on anyone else's lands, in the
territory of Armenia. But we will defend ourselves on our own land
and liberate our occupied lands from occupiers.
Now the floor is given to Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov.
Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov said:
- Dear President, Mr. Commander-in-Chief. Let me report that a
few minutes to 6, Armenian armed forces shelled the villages of
Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Tartar and Aghdam districts. There were
casualties and wounded among the population. The frontline of the
military units was also fired upon. At the same time, a
concentration of the enemy's armed forces from the direction of
Aghdam, Fuzuli and Jabrayil was in evidence and it was observed
that they were preparing for an attack. First of all, it was
reported to you and, taking into account the operational situation,
the Azerbaijani Army conducted a counter-offensive. As a result of
the counter-offensive, the enemy's frontline was broken. I have now
been given additional information that seven villages have been
liberated. Is it advisable to mention their names here?
President Ilham Aliyev: Do mention.
Minister Zakir Hasanov: Garakhanbayli, Nuzgar, Yukhari
Abdurrahmanli, Boyuk Marjanli, Kand Horadiz and Garvand villages
have been liberated. The Azerbaijani Army is conducting a
successful counter-offensive in other directions and the enemy is
retreating with heavy losses. I want to emphasize that the strikes
of the Azerbaijani Army are carried out both on the frontline and
deep within the enemy. As you mentioned, the most modern weapons
are being used and we do not see much resistance from the enemy.
The enemy is fully retreating. Reported by Minister of Defense,
Colonel-General Hasanov.
President Ilham Aliyev: Clear! We will hold the rest of the
Security Council behind closed doors. I am confident that the
citizens of Azerbaijan will understand this decision. Many of the
issues to be discussed are military secrets. But I want to say
again that the population of Azerbaijan is regularly informed by
both the Presidential Administration and the Ministry of Defense.
Operational information will be shared with the citizens of
Azerbaijan.
I congratulate the people of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani Army
on their first successes. Long live the Azerbaijani Army! Long live
Azerbaijan!
Other members of the Security Council took part in the
discussion.
- Gecə Modu
- Ana səhifə
- Statistika
- Mənbələr
- Reytinq
- Hava
- Valyuta
