Baku: President Ilham Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijan’s unwavering stance against Armenia’s occupation, stating that the country never intended to reconcile with the occupation of its territories. During his speech at the military parade commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Victory in the Patriotic War, he addressed the impact of Armenia’s policies in the early 1990s. As a result of these policies, approximately 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territories fell under occupation, and around one million Azerbaijani citizens were displaced.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Aliyev emphasized the resilience of the Azerbaijani people despite the severe challenges they faced. He recalled the war crimes committed against Azerbaijanis, notably the Khojaly genocide, and highlighted the policy of ethnic cleansing. These actions, he asserted, did not break the will of the Azerbaijani people, reinforcing the nation’s resolve to never accept the occupation of its lands.