Ilham Aliyev lays down conditions for a cease-fire

In an upbeat televised address to the nation on Sunday evening (4 October), Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev announced that Azerbaijan had regained control over a number of towns and settlements that had been under Armenian control since the 1992-94 conflict, and said this was a moment when Azerbaijanis wept with joy.

The president lashed out at the Armenian leadership and accused them of being responsible for the breakdown in negotiations. He said that foreign leaders had been calling him and asking him what were his conditions for a cease fire. He  said that his conditions to Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan "were the same as before

  • to leave our lands, to leave them, to stop the confrontation. Not in word but in deed.
  • Let him say that he recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, as stated in the fundamental principles. 
  • Let him say that he will withdraw his troops from the occupied territories, as stated in the fundamental principles. 
  • Let him say that he apologizes to the Azerbaijani people and say that Karabakh is not Armenia. 
  • The last condition is to give us a schedule for a withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories. 

Then, of course, we will restore the ceasefire. But it is difficult to do it now when fierce battles underway. Because if we stop, they will not stop. But at least it would be possible to work on that. But requests to stop and give them some time... Why should we give them time? Give them time to gather strength? Give them time to attack us again? Do they really think we are so naïve? Give them time to come to the talks... I said what I needed, and this is all."

Aliyev criticised the international community for not taking a firmer stand with Armenia as regards the territories of Azerbaijan it was occupying, singling out the Minsk Group and the EU for not reacting.

The full speech of president Ilham Aliyev's address is available in english on the website of the Azerbaijani presidential administration and you can read it here.

related content: Nikol Pashinyan in passionate appeal to Armenian nation as conflict reaches decisive moment

source: commonspace.eu with president.az

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
Stumbling blocks for Armenia and Azerbaijan on the Road to SCO Membership

Stumbling blocks for Armenia and Azerbaijan on the Road to SCO Membership

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, held on August 31–September 1, 2025, in Tianjin, China, brought together leaders of the 10 member states, as well as representatives from over 20 countries and 10 international organisations. The summit resulted in the adoption of the Tianjin Declaration and the SCO Development Strategy until 2035, outlining key directions for cooperation and security. Armenia officially announced its intention to join the SCO on July 3, 2025, emphasising its commitment to the organisation’s core principles, territorial integrity, non-use of force, and inviolability of borders. Azerbaijan submitted its application later, in August. Currently, the process of admitting Armenia and Azerbaijan to the SCO is in the preliminary co-ordination stage, involving the attainment of partner status with the prospect of transitioning to full membership in the future.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Stumbling blocks for Armenia and Azerbaijan on the Road to SCO Membership

Stumbling blocks for Armenia and Azerbaijan on the Road to SCO Membership

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, held on August 31–September 1, 2025, in Tianjin, China, brought together leaders of the 10 member states, as well as representatives from over 20 countries and 10 international organisations. The summit resulted in the adoption of the Tianjin Declaration and the SCO Development Strategy until 2035, outlining key directions for cooperation and security. Armenia officially announced its intention to join the SCO on July 3, 2025, emphasising its commitment to the organisation’s core principles, territorial integrity, non-use of force, and inviolability of borders. Azerbaijan submitted its application later, in August. Currently, the process of admitting Armenia and Azerbaijan to the SCO is in the preliminary co-ordination stage, involving the attainment of partner status with the prospect of transitioning to full membership in the future.