Subject of Karabakh conflict closed ‘once and for all’: Azerbaijani president

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday said that the subject of the Karabakh conflict has been closed “once and for all.”

“The book of separatists is closed once and for all,” Aliyev said during an event in the city of Fuzuli in the country’s Karabakh Economic Region, according to the presidency.

Aliyev further said that they did not allow the topic to be brushed aside, expressing that there were "many countries and forces" that wanted to instill the idea of coming to terms with the occupation of the region and to start cooperating with Armenia.

“Many reiterated that there was no military solution to the conflict. We have shown that there is, and we have shown it again recently. This topic is now closed,” Aliyev added.

The Azerbaijani president went on to say that Fuzuli city is being completely rebuilt now, adding that the foundation stones of several important facilities were laid during his visit.

Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions, including Fuzuli.

Most of the territory was liberated by Azerbaijan during a war in the fall of 2020, which ended after a Russian-brokered peace agreement and also opened the door to normalization.

This year on Sept. 19, the Azerbaijani army initiated an anti-terrorism operation in Karabakh to establish constitutional order in the region, after which illegal separatist forces in the region surrendered.

Azerbaijan, having now established full sovereignty in the region, has reiterated its call on the Armenian population in Karabakh to become part of Azerbaijani society.