Baku: Azerbaijan's victory in 2020 marked not just a military triumph but the resolution of a prolonged territorial conflict, restoring sovereignty over internationally recognized territories that had been outside its control for nearly three decades. The success underscored the rare achievement in the history of late 20th and 21st-century conflicts, where a nation reinstated its territorial integrity and sovereignty that had been undermined for years.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized the political and historical significance of this victory during a meeting with international conference participants in Baku. He described Azerbaijan's challenge as not just a confrontation with Armenia but also a struggle against international institutions that had failed to yield results for decades. Through its own efforts, Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity, sovereignty, and rights.
President Aliyev highlighted the broader impact of Azerbaijan's actions, noting that the Azerbaijani people ended an enduring injustice and set a global precedent. He remarked that, until then, occupied lands were rarely liberated, citing the 20th and 21st centuries as periods where such instances were uncommon. This achievement changed the status quo that had persisted for years.
The President also addressed the paradox of the Karabakh conflict, where international law was not enforced, despite four UN Security Council resolutions. He criticized the international community's inaction, noting that major powers, including the Minsk Group co-chair countries, failed to address Armenia's occupation. Azerbaijan demanded a political decision labeling the aggressor, without expecting military intervention.
Under these circumstances, Azerbaijan's 44-day Patriotic War shifted the battlefield and political realities. By September 2023, illegal armed formations in Karabakh were disarmed, and Azerbaijani sovereignty was established throughout its territory.
In the post-war period, Azerbaijan pursued legal accountability, with leaders of the former separatist entity facing charges in Azerbaijani courts. President Aliyev pointed to the arrest of separatists in September 2023 as part of restoring sovereignty and highlighted the political context of these trials as an affirmation of state sovereignty.
Beyond military and legal processes, Azerbaijan focused on reconstruction in liberated territories. President Aliyev discussed the destruction of Aghdam during occupation, emphasizing the strategic importance of rebuilding to ensure the return of Azerbaijanis and strengthen sovereignty sustainably.
Transitioning from conflict to peace, Azerbaijan and Armenia's foreign ministers initialed a draft agreement for peace and interstate relations on August 8, 2025, in Washington. This marked a new chapter in Azerbaijan's journey from victory to sovereignty, legal responsibility, and interstate normalization, paving the way for lasting peace.