DECEMBER-2020 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. Liberation of Lachin and rebuilding Karabakh 2 II. Restoration of a stable peace in the region requires a revision of approaches 3 III. Armenia-Azerbaijan Propaganda War and Western Media Bias 5 IV. Armenia plunges into political crisis after defeat in the Second Karabakh War 7 V. United Nations General Assembly convenes special session on the coronavirus pandemic 9 VI. The Southern Gas Corridor opens up gas supply to Europe 10 VII. Azerbaijan and Afghanistan discuss boosting bilateral ties 11 VIII. Year in Review 12 I. Liberation of Lachin and rebuilding have been entirely demolished and razed to Karabakh the ground during the period they were under Lachin became the last of three occupied the control of Armenia. Apart from residential districts due to be handed back by Armenia as and administrative buildings, according to the part of the Russian-brokered peace deal official sources, 700 historic and cultural following the six-week war. In a televised monuments damaged or destroyed; 927 address to the nation on December 1, libraries; 808 cultural centers; 85 music and art President Ilham Aliyev congratulated the schools; 22 museums with over 100,000 nation on the return of Lachin. “We, for our artefacts; 4 art galleries, 4 theatres, 2 concert part, have already restored justice. We have halls in these territories over the last thirty restored historical justice. Our goal is to years. The reconstruction of the region is prevent Armenian fascism from rearing its therefore a process that will take a long period of time and massive financial resources. head in this region. If someone wants to provide Armenia with a territory for the According to some experts, this may take 5-10 establishment of a second state, let them give years and cost more than 10 billion dollars. At them a part of their territory," President Ilham the same time, Azerbaijan is determined that Aliyev said in his televised speech. President the life will be restored in the liberated lands Ilham Aliyev also emphasized the challenges which used to be one of the most prosperous facing the country regarding the process of the parts of Azerbaijan in the past. The rebuilding the lands liberated from the government already announced that it plans to occupation. “Everything is devastated – the allocate 2.2 billion manats (1.3 billion dollars) infrastructure is destroyed, residential and for reconstruction works in the liberated administrative buildings are demolished. territories in 2021. “A restoration period is There are currently no living conditions in now setting in. Large-scale construction work will be carried out. Of course, first of all, these places. But we will restore these regions, all our districts; we will take all steps to create Azerbaijani companies will take part in this a normal life for our citizens. As you know, the work, and we will invite companies from first projects have already started. Relevant countries that are friendly to us,” President funds have been allocated from the Ilham Aliyev noted in a meeting with the President's Contingency Fund. The parliamentary delegation of Italy in Baku. construction of the Fuzuli-Shusha highway and Baku has already signed first contracts with the Barda-Aghdam railway has already begun. Turkish companies. The reconstruction This shows that we plan this work as efficiently process attracts European states, too. For as possible and so that to organize all these example, James Sharp, British Ambassador to activities without wasting time. Relevant Azerbaijan, tweeted about his meeting with government body has already been set up and Ramin Guluzade, Azerbaijani Minister of all this work will be carried out in a Transport, Communications and High coordinated manner,” President Ilham Aliyev Technologies on December 1, stating that they noted. discussed the construction of “smart cities” in Seven districts around the former Nagorno- “the territories liberated from the Karabakh region that were home to more than occupation”. According to Vasif Huseynov, a 700,000 Azerbaijanis before their occupation senior advised at the Center of Analysis of during the First Karabakh War (1988-1994) International Relations of Azerbaijan (AIR 3 Center), “it was a signal that the companies On December 10, Azerbaijan also held a from those states who demonstrated anti- military parade to mark the country's victory Azerbaijani position in the Second Karabakh over Armenia. The parade was presided over War would not be welcome in the by President Ilham Aliyev and his guest of reconstruction of the liberated territories”. In honor, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip his address on December 1, President Ilham Erdogan. During the victory parade, Azerbaijan Aliyev underscored that “the overall displayed Armenian hardware and weapons economic, agricultural and tourism potential captured during the Second Karabakh War. of all the liberated districts is enormous. We must maximize this potential and turn the Karabakh region into one of the most beautiful II. Restoration of a stable peace in areas not only in Azerbaijan, but also the the region requires a revision of world, and I am sure that we will achieve this”. approaches Not a comprehensive state program has been In a televised address to the nation on announced yet that covers the reconstruction December 1, President Ilham Aliyev urged plans of the Azerbaijani government, but a those dissatisfied with the outcome of the war number of measures have been taken and to come to terms with the post-war reality and announcements have been made. assist the restoration of a stable peace in the Immediately after the liberation of the Shusha region. The South Caucasus needs a fresh city, Azerbaijan announced the construction of perspective on security. Currently, there is no a new road to the city that will be more than a unanimity about a sound future peace based hundred kilometers. Three companies from on the principle of territorial integrity in Turkey and Azerbaijan are involved in the accordance with international law. Such a process which is expected to complete in 1,5 vision of peace would have allowed all regional years. Azerbaijan’s Highways State Agency has actors to be free from the burden of past announced plans for new roads to be built in grievances and free to develop economic the near future connecting Karabakh region to opportunities similar to the European project the rest of Azerbaijan. The establishment of after World War II. Establishing such highways and railroads are seen as an consensus will, in the end, benefit all important start for future reconstruction work stakeholders: Russia, Turkey, Iran, the in the region, as well as for economic build-up. European Union, and the United States. The tripartite agreement between the leaders Criticizing the French Senate resolution that of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia that ended recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as an the Second Karabakh War on the 10th of independent entity, in his address to the November declared the opening of all nation, President Ilham Aliyev reiterated the communication channels in the region and impossibility of another Armenian state on provided Azerbaijan with a corridor with its Azerbaijani lands. “The demand that an landlocked exclave Nakhchivan Autonomous Armenian state be created on historically and Republic through Armenia. Azerbaijan is legally Azerbaijani lands defies all logic. This planning to build a highway and railroad does not fit any logic or justice. What do you communication to Nakhchivan which will also want from our lands? Countries located connect the country with its major strategic thousands of kilometers away from here are ally, Turkey. now adopting laws, their parliaments are discussing this issue. What does the French Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected] 4 Parliament have to do with this issue? How out, “this is equally applicable to both the past many years has France been co-chairing the twenty-seven years since the adoption of the Minsk Group? Has it lifted a finger? Has it UN Security Council resolutions on Nagorno- taken a tangible step to address this issue? Karabakh and the expiration of the five-year However, look, what happens after this issue Russian peacekeeping mandate under the has been resolved. The French Senate adopts ceasefire terms”. a resolution to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh. If While there has been an overflow of articles in you like them so much, then, as I said during the Western media about the geopolitical the war, give the city of Marseille to the implications of this conflict, mainly focusing on Armenians, change its name, create a second the roles of Russia and Turkey, the state for them there. But no-one can interfere overwhelming majority of journalists and in our affairs," President Ilham Aliyev experts have concentrated on profiling the underscored. interests of the regional powers or the It is concerning that those in the West who Western bloc, rather than discussing what empathize with the current miserable might constitute a sustainable peace in the situation of Armenia often voice the same South Caucasus. Future peace should be based position that brought Yerevan to its current upon a sustainable agreement rooted in impasse. French president Emmanuel Macron coexistence and cooperation. However, the expressed an anti-Azerbaijani position and main challenge is not the status of Armenians France’s Senate adopted a declaration calling in Nagorno-Karabakh, but the lack of will of for the recognition of an independent Armenians to live with Azerbaijanis—either in Nagorno-Karabakh. France’s stance is the Azerbaijan or even in Armenia.