Azerbaijan does not plan to occupy the territory of Armenia: Ilham Aliyev on peace with Armenia, on the return of Armenians to Karabakh

In a significant diplomatic address on December 6, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev dismissed any notions of a forthcoming war against Armenia, asserting the commitment to peaceful resolutions in the region. President Aliyev's statements came during his participation in the international conference titled "Karabakh: Returning Home after 30 Years. Achievements and Difficulties" at ADA University in Baku.

Aliyev directly  stating, "We have no plans to occupy the territory of Armenia, and they periodically accuse us of this. If we wanted to do this, we would have done it. I'm talking about it openly and it's a small problem for us. We don't want this."

Speaking on the potential return of Armenians to Karabakh, President Aliyev assured that there are no impediments to such a process. "Their apartments and houses are safe. They can return within the framework of the laws of Azerbaijan," he declared, suggesting a parallel effort by the Armenian side to facilitate the return of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia.

Aliyev proposed a constructive measure for reconciliation, recommending the creation of an electronic reintegration portal by the Armenian side. This portal, according to Aliyev, could contain information about the villages where Azerbaijanis once resided, allowing them to visit their native places and fostering mutual understanding.

Discussing the prospects for a peaceful settlement, President Aliyev shed light on the negotiation process. He revealed that initially, the Armenian side attempted to include a reference to the "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" in the text of the treaty. However, Azerbaijan rejected this proposal, insisting on the mutual recognition of territorial integrity.

President Aliyev underscored that if the peace treaty addresses the Armenian minority in Azerbaijan, it should also address the rights and security of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia who have the right to return. Regrettably, Aliyev noted that the Armenian side rejected this condition.

Following the anti-terrorist operation on September 19, President Aliyev emphasized that the peace treaty would include a clause on two minorities, or no such clause at all. The intricacies of the negotiations reflect the complexities of finding a balanced resolution that respects the rights and security of both Azerbaijani and Armenian populations in the region.