FEBRUARY-2021 BULLETIN H I GHL I GHT OF THE FORE I G N P O L I CY OF REPUBL I C OF AZERBA I JAN Table of contents I. Key takeaways from President Ilham Aliyev’s 4-hours long press conference 2 II. Azerbaijan set to further boost its military ties with Turkey 4 III. Rebuilding liberated territories 5 IV. Armenia`s continued provocations against Azerbaijan 8 V. Never again: The Khojaly Genocide and the future of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan 10 VI. Azerbaijan set to re-integrate Karabakh Armenians 11 VII. Azerbaijan`s role in the EU’s transition to renewable energy 13 2 I. Key takeaways from President dependent they became,” the president Ilham Aliyev’s 4-hours long press added. Whether the political crisis in Armenia conference would affect the implementation of the November peace deal, President Ilham Aliyev noted that "I am not concerned that any On February 26, President Ilham Aliyev held a change in Armenia can have an impact on the press conference for local and foreign media implementation of the declaration. First, representatives. The main goal of the press because it is already an officially signed conference, which lasted for more than four document. Second, because there is the hours, was to clarify the position of Azerbaijan Russian president's signature under it... Will on the key issues, particularly on the postwar Armenia ever dare to treat like this the Russian situation in the region after the Second president's signature? The thing is that there is Karabakh War. the Russian president's signature there and he Answering the question about the ongoing acts as the guarantor of this document". "I political developments in Armenia, President believe no matter who comes to power in Ilham Aliyev said that Baku does not interfere Armenia, any attempts to hinder the in internal affairs of other countries. "There is implementation of the 10 November a complete crisis situation in Armenia now. I declaration will be very harmful for that would not like to comment on their domestic country. I have already mentioned President developments. We never interfere in other Putin's remark that this could be a suicide for countries' domestic affairs, especially in them. The situation will be much worse than sensitive moments like this," President Ilham today," the president added. Aliyev said, adding that "I would not want to go Touching upon the issue of creating deep into the matter of the situation in sustainable peace and security in the region, Armenia. Certain political groups in Armenia President Ilham Aliyev noted that the only way may misuse what I say. It is better that they to do this is through collaboration, adding that resolve their problems on their own. But Azerbaijan’s goal is to build back surely, if we take into account that it is a communications in a trilateral way – together neighbouring country and a war was just over, with Armenia and Russia, create the Zangazur we cannot stay indifferent to the situation in corridor – a railway which will link Azerbaijan's Armenia. We are closely following the main part with its exclave Nakhchivan via the situation". southern part of Armenia – and remove all At the same time, President Ilham Aliyev transport hurdles. The realization of this plan underscored the fact that Armenia's previous will help Armenia as well. President Ilham and incumbent governments were responsible Aliyev has also said that Baku will not mind if for the current political crisis. “Kocharyan- Ankara decides to open its border with Sargsyan junta dragged Armenia to an abyss Armenia which has been closed since the early and crisis for 20 years. The country has 1990s. If Ankara decides to open the border, practically lost all the outlines of Azerbaijan will not mind because the Karabakh independence. It resembles a colony. The main conflict between Baku and Yerevan is over and reason for this is the occupation policy the situation is different now – Baku liberated because the longer they tried to keep our lands lands, which had been under Armenian under occupation, the more profoundly occupation for nearly three decades, as a Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected] 3 result of the Second Karabakh War of last? They... should come to their senses. September-November 2020, President Ilham Laying territorial claims on a great country like Aliyev explained. Turkey's move to close its Turkey is suicide," the president said. border with Armenia in 1993 as a sign of Azerbaijan will have to do truly enormous solidarity with Azerbaijan during the First work to clear the liberated territories, without Karabakh War was a symbol of fraternity. which, it will not be possible to begin the full- "Considering the new situation, we approve of scale restoration of the Azerbaijani lands. In normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations. 2021, Azerbaijan is planning to spend 100 We do not have any special opinion at present million manats (about $60 million) on about normalization of these relations, and demining the territories liberated from Turkey will itself determine when these Armenian occupation. "The investment borders can open and when relations can program for 2021 envisages over 100 million normalize," the president went on to say. "In manats for the activities of the Agency for any case, no... negative opinion will come from Mine Clearance to clear the territories Azerbaijan about it," President Ilham Aliyev liberated from occupation from mines and added. President Ilham Aliyev explained that other explosives. We have also bought the relations between all countries should be most advanced equipment," the president normal for the sake of stability in the region said. and lasting reconciliation. "Look what we are talking about at present – we are talking about President Ilham Aliyev noted that the the opening of the Armenian-Azerbaijani government has already begun to implement border. That is, if the Armenian-Azerbaijani the "smart village" project in three villages of border is opening, naturally, the Turkish- Zangilan district – Aghali 1, Aghali 2 and Ahgali Armenian border does not need to stay closed 3 – for 1000 people at the initial stage, which any longer," the president said. "If we are is expected to be completed by the end of this talking about these corridors and we if want to year. At the same time, President Ilham realize the Zangazur corridor, the Turkish- pointed out that the return to the cities like Armenian border will open, too," President Aghdam will take time, but the government Ilham Aliyev noted. In the end, it is up to has mobilized all its resources and works hard Turkey whether to open the border or not. to rebuild those territories as soon as possible. "Naturally, it is up to Turkey. In any case... Simultaneously, a new international airport is Azerbaijan does not have any special position getting built in Fuzuli, which is expected to be on this matter. Also, anything that happens to operational this year. At the same time, there Turkey's benefit benefits us, too," the are plans to build international airports in president concluded. Lachin and Zangilan as well since Zangilan is expected to become an important logistical At the same time, President Ilham Aliyev center and transport hub. Along with the pointed out that anti-Turkish propaganda is airport, two highways to the city of Shusha are very strong in Armenia. "Turkophobia has also getting constructed. One of them, named become an official ideology there, and they the "Road of Victory" by President Ilham have always regarded Turkey and Azerbaijan Aliyev, is the route along which Azerbaijan's as enemies," the president said, urging Special Forces marched to Shusha – through Yerevan to stop laying territorial claims on forests and valleys. And the other highway will Turkey. "For how long can this policy of enmity provide direct access from the Fuzuli airport. Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected] 4 Another issue touched upon by President vaccines among countries of the world, so that vzIlham Aliyev during the press conference there would be no protectionism or was the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine nationalism in this issue. President Ilham nationalism. Azerbaijan has spent almost 2 Aliyev noted that “despite all the statements billion manats ($1.16bn) last year to fight about solidarity, about the joint struggle Covid-19 pandemic. A larger part of the money against this scourge, we are seeing the exact was paid to medical workers and as social opposite. Some countries, for example, have allowances. The quarantine regime was quite purchased three to four times more vaccines effective and with a little over 200,000, than they need ... It means that someone will Azerbaijan have had a relatively low level of not have enough. And they don't even need those who have been infected with them,” adding that “they speak out for coronavirus. To date, there are just over 2,000 equality, for human rights, for democracy, but active patients. Since Azerbaijan managed to in practice they infringe on the rights of establish more than 10 new modular hospitals millions of people, those living in poor and also since there has been a positive countries and unable to afford it. Even if they dynamic between the number of those could afford it, they would simply have no infected and those recovering in favor of the access to it”. President Ilham Aliyev also noted latter in the last two months, the situation with that he raised this issue at the special session the coronavirus has been under control from of the UN General Assembly, and it was the very beginning of the pandemic.