Aliyev discusses Karabakh on Azerbaijan's national day

Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev called his recent meeting with the Armenian president “successful”, in an official reception to mark Azerbaijan’s national day. Saturday marks 98 years since the first Azerbaijan republic was founded at the end of the first world war.

“I'm convinced that the year 2016 will be successful for our country,” he said, also mentioning the on-going military build-up in Karabakh.

“The political leadership of Armenia, nationalist groups, people with constant hatred to Azerbaijan, want to disrupt [Azerbaijan’s] positive trends, erase them,” he said, according to APA.az. “Our territorial integrity is not a subject of the talks, and I think that the Vienna meeting was successful.”

Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia sat down together on May 16 in the Austrian capital for their first talks since a four-day war at the beginning of April. Another meeting is set to take place some time in June. 

I am glad that the leaders, foreign ministers of the countries co-chairing the Minsk Group, other members have unambiguously stated that the status quo is unacceptable and must be changed,” Aliyev said.

“Changing the status quo means the end of the occupation, because the status quo satisfies Armenia, they do not want peace. They want the status quo remained eternal. They want to have endless negotiations.” 

Leaders from around the world congratulated Azerbaijan on its founding day.

“On behalf of the United States, I congratulate you and the people of Azerbaijan on the 98th anniversary of Azerbaijan’s founding as the world’s first Muslim-majority secular democracy,” said President Obama. 

SOURCE: APA.az

PHOTO: Ilham Aliyev

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
Trump says Ukraine should give up land for peace as preparations start for US-Russia summit

Trump says Ukraine should give up land for peace as preparations start for US-Russia summit

U.S. President  Donald Trump said that the Donbas region in the east of Ukraine should be “cut up,” leaving most of it in Russian hands, to end a  war that has dragged on for nearly four years. Trump has edged back in the direction of pressing Ukraine to give up on retaking land it has lost to Russia, in exchange for an end to the war. Following a phone call last week, the Russian and US leaders Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump announced they would meet in Budapest for talks on resolving the war in Ukraine, triggered by Moscow's all-out offensive in February 2022. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US counterpart Marco Rubio spoke on Monday 20 October to discuss preparations for the summit, and are expected to meet in person to finalise details. However, the Kremlin stated on Tuesday 21 October that there was "no precise time frame" for the summit even though Trump stated that the meeting with Putin could take place within two weeks.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Trump says Ukraine should give up land for peace as preparations start for US-Russia summit

Trump says Ukraine should give up land for peace as preparations start for US-Russia summit

U.S. President  Donald Trump said that the Donbas region in the east of Ukraine should be “cut up,” leaving most of it in Russian hands, to end a  war that has dragged on for nearly four years. Trump has edged back in the direction of pressing Ukraine to give up on retaking land it has lost to Russia, in exchange for an end to the war. Following a phone call last week, the Russian and US leaders Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump announced they would meet in Budapest for talks on resolving the war in Ukraine, triggered by Moscow's all-out offensive in February 2022. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US counterpart Marco Rubio spoke on Monday 20 October to discuss preparations for the summit, and are expected to meet in person to finalise details. However, the Kremlin stated on Tuesday 21 October that there was "no precise time frame" for the summit even though Trump stated that the meeting with Putin could take place within two weeks.