Azerbaijan is for peace with Armenia, but if the enemy thinks about revenge, it will receive a tough answer - Ilham Aliyev

Baku/13.04.21/Turan: Azerbaijan has no military plans against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. Baku is ready to sign a peace agreement with Yerevan, if there is a reciprocal desire of the Armenian side. However, if revanchist sentiments prevail in Armenia, then Azerbaijan is ready to re-inflict a crushing blow on the enemy, stated on Tuesday by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, speaking at the conference: "A new look at the South Caucasus: development and cooperation after the conflict" at the ADA University.

Answering the questions of the participants, he said, “We have no plans to use force against the Armenians living in Karabakh. As I said, the Karabakh conflict is over. Azerbaijan considers the Armenians living in the territories controlled by the Russian peacekeepers to be its citizens. The humanitarian aid and material and technical support that we have provided so far also testify to our intentions,” Aliyev said.

In particular, Azerbaijan provides Russian peacekeepers with transport and logistics assistance through its railway to resolve humanitarian issues.

"I can cite other examples. We allowed Gazprom to supply gas to Armenia through Azerbaijan due to repair work on Russian territory. This is another sign, a gesture. We also allowed Armenians to use 21 kilometers of our road to Gubadli and Zangilan and are not blocking. This is not just gesture on our part; this is a principled policy.

In this sense, we expect more from the civil society of Armenia, since neither the authorities nor the opposition of Armenia show positive attitude towards Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijanophobia persists in Armenia; hatred of Azerbaijanis has been cultivated for decades. They must start telling the truth to the Armenian people, because the war has remained in history, and it is necessary to look to the future," Aliyev said.

“I believe that we should actively build bridges here and in Yerevan. Of course, if the Armenian side wants it. We have not received any messages from Armenia about the possibility of a peace agreement. At the same time, the Prime Minister of Armenia is calm, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs is aggressive. Even now, Armenia cannot abandon its aggressive attitude towards Azerbaijan. They must remember what happened in the war.

If Armenia has a positive signal and wants to establish contacts, we are ready to do everything in our power,” Aliyev said. Aliyev also stated that Baku has no military plans on the border with Armenia.

“You asked about what will happen after the Russian peacekeeping contingent leaves the region? We have borders with Armenia in Tovuz, Gazakh. Our border troops are stationed in the immediate vicinity of the Armenian side in Zangilan. Are there any incidents? Not. There is no Armenian army, it is demoralized, our troops are in close proximity to them, but we have no military plans,” Aliyev said.

At the same time, plans to modernize the Armenian army together with Russia raise questions. “We conveyed our position to Russian partners. Why is this done? Any thoughts of revenge will be strictly suppressed,” the President of Azerbaijan added.