Baku:President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev announced the liberation of Azerbaijani territories from Armenian occupation and the restoration of justice and dignity during his speech at the opening of the 7th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.

According to Azeri-Press news agency, President Aliyev reflected on the 35 years of Azerbaijan's independence, emphasizing that the main goal throughout these years was the restoration of territorial integrity and the liberation of lands occupied by Armenia. He criticized the negotiation process, stating that it was designed to freeze the conflict rather than resolve it, and highlighted that global powers underestimated the resolve of the Azerbaijani people and government.

President Aliyev further stated that Azerbaijan defended itself based on its legitimate rights, including provisions of the UN Charter, and successfully liberated its territories after 30 years of Armenian occupation. He noted that Azerbaijan fulfilled United Nations Security Council resolutions from 1993 that called for the withdrawal of Armenian troops, which had not been implemented for three decades.