Baku: "I said during the Patriotic War, when our cities and villages were being bombed by the Armenian state, that we are Azerbaijanis, that we are waging and will continue to wage war based on the rules of war," President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stated during his meeting with the representatives of the Khojaly district community.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Aliyev emphasized that unlike the Armenians, Azerbaijan has never waged war against innocent and unarmed civilians. He highlighted that this approach has elevated the reputation of the Azerbaijani people and state. The respect for Azerbaijan, he noted, is partly derived from their adherence to the rules of war. President Aliyev recalled his previous statements that Azerbaijan would seek justice on the battlefield, which he affirmed has been achieved. He paid tribute to the martyrs, expressing that their blood has been avenged and offering solace to their families. He mentioned the importance of remembering the Khojaly genocide and other war crimes, stressing the need for Azerbaijan to remain strong to prevent future tragedies.