By Asbarez | Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Ilham Aliyev during Sunday's military parade
BAKU—At what was described as the largest military parade in Azerbaijan since the Soviet Union, Azeri president Ilham Aliyev on Sunday reiterated his intentions to reclaim Karabakh “by any means.”
“I am absolutely confident that our territorial integrity will be restored by any means. But we must be twice as stronger to achieve this,” he said.
Aliyev stressed that his country intends to continue diplomatic efforts to maintain its territorial integrity, but noted that Azerbaijan still lives in a “state of war.”
The president said that in the past few years Azerbaijan’s military spending has increased dramatically from $160 million in 2003 to $ 3.3 billion in 2011
He added that the military budget will remain the top priority of his country, until Armenia abandons “the lands of Azerbaijan” and signs a peace treaty.
“Nagorno-Karabakh has always been one and still remains an age-old Azerbaijani land. It is only temporarily under occupation, but this occupation cannot last long,” he added.
comments
A Nation Betrayed, A Future to Reclaim: Why Unity is Our Only Path Forward at the 2026 Elections
Armenia Has Become Largest Buyer of Indian Weapons
ARF AU Statement: In solidarity with Tavush
OPED: The Beginning of a New Struggle
Already Scarce Bread to be Rationed in Artsakh Due to Blockade
Artsakh Political Factions Agree On New President
Pashinyan Warns International Community of New Azerbaijani Attacks Against Armenia, Artsakh
Artsakh Students, Kidnapped by Azerbaijan, Released into Armenian Custody
Artsakh Says Azerbaijan’s Demands Further Complicate Situation