Ilham Aliyev: “The Azerbaijani people never intended to accept the occupation”

Over the years, army-building, improving the professionalism of the Armed Forces, holding regular military exercises, enhancing combat capability, and equipping the army with modern technology and weapons played a major role in achieving Victory.

TodayPress TV reports that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made these remarks in his address to the nation from Khankendi on the occasion of Victory Day.

The President stated that, however, the main path to Victory ran through the hearts of the people, soldiers and officers:

“The path that led us forward was the path of dignity. The Azerbaijani people never intended to accept the occupation. During the occupation, I repeatedly stated openly at various events that Azerbaijan would never reconcile itself to the occupation. Although the countries standing behind Armenia wanted us to accept this occupation, they repeatedly told us that there was no military solution to this conflict. They repeatedly resorted to various provocations to push us into unacceptable concessions. The large-scale smear, slander and defamation campaign against Azerbaijan, as well as all the provocations designed to discredit the Azerbaijani state, its people and its leadership, failed to achieve any results. I repeatedly stated that we would never accept the occupation and that if Armenia did not voluntarily withdraw from the occupied territories, we would restore our territorial integrity by military means”.