Menu
Latest
Menu
Latest
Aliev lashes out at opposition as he accepts nomination for third term.

Aliev lashes out at opposition as he accepts nomination for third term.

8 June 2013

President Ilham Aliev was on Friday nominated as the candidate of the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party (YAP) in next October's Presidential election in Azerbaijan during the 5th congress of the Party held in Baku..

 

In his acceptance speech President Aliev praised the Party's achievements over the last two decades and hit hard at opposition forces, claiming that they were ready to make unaccpetable concessions to Armenia in their quest to achieve power. With reference to the opposition forces Aliev said:

 

"They are anti-national forces. They are anti-national, treacherous, corrupt factions that were once in power, and that even today live with the dream of power without any reason. They see their work in completely different direction.

 

Their political activity - if it can be called political activity - is in completely different direction. Their method of political struggle is not a word, not an opinion, but "Molotov cocktail." They rely on not people and its will, but grants and money issued from abroad. A freedom of speech for them means to write denunciations, to blemish Azerbaijan and promote fabrications and slander in international organizations.

 

"Of course, such groups don't have and can't have a place in a political life of Azerbaijan. The history of the last 20 years confirms that the forces which don't care about future and independence of Azerbaijan can't have a place in political scene of Azerbaijan. We have built an independent state. The great leader built an independent state at a cost of his life. We defend and protect this independence.Independence is greatest asset, the most valuable thing for us. Independence is not only a presence of attributes of the state. Independence means to pursue an independent policy, to protect national interests, which are paramount. Today, Azerbaijan is an independent state from both an economic and a political view point in the true sense of the word. We need to strengthen this independence.

 

Once again I want to say that we have established equal relationship with all partners. We only accept such a relationship. It can't be otherwise. And those who try to compete with us act in line with the instructions from abroad. The most important for them are funds sent from abroad and instructions from there. They are ready to make any concessions only to come to power. We know that. We know what's going on, what processes are going on in Azerbaijan. In order to come to power, they are even ready to make big concessions in the most important issue for us - Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. And they do not hide it. They promise that if they receive much support, they are ready to give Karabakh to Armenians."

 

Aliev also re-affirmed the determination of the Azerbaijani leadership to secure the liberation of Azerbaijani territory that is currently under Armenia's control."

 

The President said: 

 

Our position is principled. I have stated this on numerous times. The Azerbaijani people and Yeni Azerbaijan Party unanimously support this position. The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is not and will not be a subject of talks. Nagorno-Karabakh is a native Azerbaijani land. This is true today and it will so in future. Azerbaijan will restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity at any cost. This conflict can only solved under international law and four UN Security Council resolutions. No any other option is considered here. No other option is acceptable.

 

I believe and I am sure that we will solve this matter. Our growing internal and external force, growing military capabilities and economic development will determine our victory.

 

Armenia, one can say, is in complete fiasco. The corrupt dictatorial regime that seized power in Armenia leads the country into the abyss. People leave the country in great numbers. About 100,000 citizens leave the country permanently every year. First of all, this is because they have no hope, the economy is, it can be said, in a paralyzed state. On the other hand, bloodthirsty, rapacious criminal gangster regime ruling the country commits violence against the people. All elections in Armenia are rigged and political struggle there leads to bloody tragedies. This is a terrorist country controlled in a terrorist, gangster way. The longer the current criminal regime stays in power in Armenia, the sooner will Armenia suffer a complete fiasco.

 

I am absolutely convinced that this is why we will restore our territorial integrity. Our growing strength dictates that on the other hand. This simply requires time and strong policies. A policy which doesn't make concessions, which is uncompromising, based on national interests, which today can ensure our power. Only our government can withstand all the pressures, threats and provocations.

 

This conflict lies at the heart of the campaign being waged against us in many cases: weaken and blemish Azerbaijan, harm its image and snatch concessions from us in the Karabakh issue. It will not work as our cause is just, and the people support our policy."

 

In his speech Ilham Aliev also reaffirmed his committment to democratic reforms. he said

 

"In relation to the internal policy, I should say that we will further develop democracy in Azerbaijan. We have freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, freedom of religion and freedom of assembly. We have free internet in Azerbaijan. No restrictions are made. To develop democracy is our major goal. Today, Azerbaijan is not inferior to anyone for the development of democracy. And in some cases the current democratic situation that we have should be an example for other countries."

 

During the Congress the delegates re-elected Ilham Aliev as Chairman of the Party. The Congress also elected four Vice Chairmen. The President's wife, Mehraban Alieva was elected one of the four Vice Chairmen of the Party. Observers think this may herald a modernisation of the Party apparatus since Mrs Alieva is known to have spearheaded a number of changes in other sectors where she is involved.Overall however the Congress did not throw any surprises.

 

source: commonspace.eu with news.az

 

photo: Ilham Aliev addressing the 5th Congress of the Yeni Azerbaijan Party (YAP) in Baku on 7 June 2013. (Picture courtesy of the press Service of the President of Azerbaijan.



Latest

Editor's choice
Monday Commentary
Monday Commentary: PEACE IN OUR TIME?
Trending

Monday Commentary: PEACE IN OUR TIME?

19 October 2026
Making peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan was never going to be simple, nor easy, nor quick. It is taking time, writes Dennis Sammut in this Monday Commentary. “There is a sense of realism coming from the leaders of the two countries – President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and prime minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia, that frankly, is necessary and welcome”, he writes. At a time when conflicts are raging all over the world – from Ukraine to the Gulf, from Africa to South Asia, the prospect that Armenia and Azerbaijan had finally, after decades of conflict that left thousands of dead and many more displaced, decided on embarking on a journey of peace was welcomed. Peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan can be top-down up to a point. Both leaders have spent political capital preparing for a peace deal. But both are aware that their people are not ready for peace yet. In fact, in Armenia, most of the elite are negative toward a peace deal with Azerbaijan. Pashinyan needs time to persuade his countryfolk. That is why 2031 is realistic. Ilham Aliyev runs a tighter shop, but he is also not immune to public opinion. Every time someone hits a landmine in Karabakh, which unfortunately happens often, peace comes into question. Which is why Aliyev chooses to sound hardline, more often than not. In pursuing the peace agenda, both Aliyev and Pashinyan need to proceed cautiously. But they are right in making peace the central issue in their agenda. It is the main issue, and the one that will define them in history. So forward, cautiously but resolutely! In pursuing the peace agenda, Aliyev and Pashinyan need to be supported clearly and unambiguously. There are too many people in Baku and Yerevan who are sitting on the sides, waiting. The international community is not doing enough. It is time to be counted. Otherwise, the spoilers will win, and the region will go back to its bad habits. (Click the image to read the full commentary).
Dennis Sammut
Editor's choice
News
European Union and Canada agree on "Alliance for the future" at milestone Montreal summit
Trending

European Union and Canada agree on "Alliance for the future" at milestone Montreal summit

31 October 2026
António Costa, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, represented the EU at the 21st EU-Canada summit, which took place in Montreal on 29 and 30 October 2026. Prime Minister Mark Carney represented Canada. The summit marked a major milestone in EU-Canada relations, paving the way for an even broader and deeper political partnership. Leaders took stock of progress made since the previous EU-Canada summit and issued a joint statement launching an Alliance for the Future. Building on their longstanding strategic partnership, the alliance aims to deepen cooperation and create a common prosperity and economic security space. This is a moment to act with clarity and ambition. By aligning more closely – economically, technologically and strategically – Canada and the EU are building an Alliance for the Future based on trust and shared values that meets the scale of today's challenges and opportunities and will reinforce the freedom, prosperity and safety our citizens expect and deserve. We are stronger together. Building on their existing Strategic Partnership Agreement, the EU and Canada will deepen political engagement and coordination on shared priorities. Leaders welcomed the increasingly frequent exchanges with Canadian ministers at relevant Council and ministerial meetings. The EU and Canada will build on these exchanges through regular summits, joint ministerial meetings and cooperation committees. The partners will work to define the concept of an ever-closer association of Canada to the EU, short of full membership, by the 2027 EU-Canada summit. (click image to read more)

Popular

Editor's choice
Monday Commentary
Monday Commentary: European-Azerbaijan relations need an intensive and multifaceted dialogue that is frank and honest
Trending

Monday Commentary: European-Azerbaijan relations need an intensive and multifaceted dialogue that is frank and honest

7 September 2026
Last week I visited Baku, Azerbaijan. My visit was relatively short, but very intensive, and had many meetings with stakeholders and colleagues. When I arrived in Baku first time in 1996,  Azerbaijan was a different country: weak, poor, and shaken by defeat in war. For thirty year the Karabakh issue dominated the agenda: the political agenda but also the popular mindset. Now, thirty years later, Azerbaijan has returned to Karabakh, and peace with Armenia is on the horizon. It is a new era for Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, for the South Caucasus, but also for Europe.  But we cannot be complacent: the Peace agreement has been initialed but not signed; borders remain closed; TRIPP is ambitious but remains an idea; and there are spoilers who want to turn the clock back. We must not allow them, and in this Europe and Azerbaijan must work together. Europe’ vanguard organization is the European Union – it is a free union of 27 member states; it is a strong global economic force, and increasingly a diplomatic and military force too. But it remains “work in progress” and can often appear dysfunctional. It often lacks collective and institutional memory. In its dealings with Azerbaijan the EU has made many mistakes – not least opening the delegation here late – in 2008. It sometimes appears condescending. Some utterances from the European Parliament and from some quarters in some member states are not understandable even for me. They irritate the Azerbaijanis, but serve no other purpose But Azerbaijan has also not handled relations with the EU well. It has failed to respond when the hand of friendship reached out; and it confused irritating actions, sometimes by well-meaning people; sometimes by outright spoilers, with strategic action. In short, EU-Azerbaijan relations have suffered from a lack of proper dialogue. This dialogue must be frank, honest and multi-faceted involving different segments of society on both sides.   Is Azerbaijan Europe? When Azerbaijan applied to join the Council of Europe in the 1990s, there were some who opposed, saying this was not Europe. I was one of the people who argued that Armenia and Azerbaijan may be on the periphery of the continent geographically, but were European in essence. Certainly their elites. During the discussion on 4 September in Baku, my friend Farhad Mammedov, mentioned that Azerbaijan is not interested in joining the EU, and was now close to the Central Asian countries in the 5 plus 1 format. Neither things mean that Azerbaijan is not Europe. There are several European countries that are not in the EU, and do not want to be, for example Norway and Switzerland. Iceland has recently voted to stay out of the EU. The UK was a member and left. Europe is bigger than the EU, and the holding of the European Political Community summit in Baku in 2027 proves that. Despite all the rhetoric, I never heard the president of Azerbaijan  saying that Azerbaijan is not Europe, nor have I heard any European president say it either. Not wanting to join the EU and forging close relations with neighbouring regions does not make Azerbaijan any less European. It is only logical that when Europeans talk to Azerbaijan they talk like family. The conversation is often frank. It must also be honest, and Europeans need always to remember this too. A frank, honest and multi-faceted dialogue A frank, honest and multifaceted dialogue will contribute to relations between Azerbaijan and the rest of Europe: it will avoid misperception, which unfortunately is very common on both sides; it will provide a forum where problems can be discussed and resolved, and it will increase mutual trust, so that together common problems can be addressed. (click image to read the full Monday Commentary)
Dennis Sammut
Editor's choice
Monday Commentary
Monday Commentary: “The barren rocks of Aden” and “These lands of Yemen are so ruthless”
Trending

Monday Commentary: “The barren rocks of Aden” and “These lands of Yemen are so ruthless”

21 September 2026
There are two early 20th-century tunes that mark foreign attempts to occupy and “pacify” Yemen. The Scottish tune “The barren rocks of Aden” marks the mobilisation of Highland soldiers, enlisted to be deployed to the Yemeni port of Aden, that in 1837 became the last colony to be incorporated into the British Empire. The tune talks of the harshness of the terrain, but is celebratory, It was even played as a farewell tune to Sir William Luce at the parade in Sharjah celebrating his end as “British Viceroy” in the Middle East in 1966. The second tune is an Anatolian lament. As Ilker Sezer reminded us this weekend, in his weekly feature on “Turkiye Today”, it “mourns the tragic fate of Ottoman soldiers dispatched to the harsh, remote deserts of Yemen during the fall of the empire, young men who marched away from their villages and never returned home. Most of their names, and numbers, were never recorded. Yet, their fate left a mark on the Turkish psyche.” Subsequent invaders have discovered that Yemen is a grave that cannot be overcome by the strength of modern technology, and that whilst Yemeni society is splintered and divided, building a reliable alliance with Yemeni factions is difficult. These are the harsh lessons facing Saudi Arabia, as the Kingdom faces its biggest challenge in its modern history. The leadership of the Kingdom now has to respond decisively. At stake is their very credibility. This is likely to be a long and messy conflict. Saudi military objectives need to be focused: to box in the Houthis rather than destroy them. This is likely to include: (a) regaining territory lost on the Red Sea coast; (b) control over Bab el Mandeb Strait; (c) some kind of cordon sanitaire on the Saudi-Yemeni border; and if things go well (d) the capture of Sanaa. All this would not eliminate the Houthi problem, but it will contain it. In the end the Saudis will have to continue managing Yemen with a mixture of carrot and stick. For the moment, the stick is likely, but the carrot cannot be forgotten either. (click the image to read the Monday Commentary in full)
Dennis Sammut