Aliyev: Karabakh Status Possible Only Within Azerbaijan

The status of Nagorno-Karabakh is possible only within the framework of a single state of Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev said at the opening ceremony of the military camp in the XYZ military unit on Monday.

He stressed that the settlement of the conflict must first of all restore the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Nagorno-Karabakh will never be granted independence.

"As for the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh, then it (the status) is only possible within a single Azerbaijani state," Aliyev said. Azerbaijan, he continued, was formed as a self-sufficient, independent state. But Armenia is a dependent state, not able to determine its own destiny.

According to Aliyev, Azerbaijan will continue to build up its military and economic potential. He expressed his confidence that Azerbaijan will restore its territorial integrity. Aliyev based this conviction on "many factors" and "above all a strong army."

 Aliyev said the Azerbaijani army prevented an armed provocation of Armenians in April 2016 and dealt crushing blows to the enemy. As a result of the fighting parts of the Fizuli, Jabrail and Agdere districts were liberated. "Thousands of hectares of land were liberated from occupation. To date, tens of thousands of hectares of land are controlled by the Azerbaijani army. These lands are being cleaned, and in the near future, IDPs will return there," Aliyev said.

The April battles, in his opinion, "are our major military victory." The Armenian myths about the alleged invincibility of Armenia's army were scattered. "Although Armenia does not want to recognize its bitter defeat, it is forced to do so. It was after the April fighting that many high-ranking military men headed by the Minister of Defense of Armenia were dismissed from their posts. This was the result of the April fighting," the President of Azerbaijan said.    -06D--