On 10 December, a “Victory Parade” was held in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku to mark the end of the 44-day long war over Nagorno-Karabakh.
The parade featured more than 3,000 personnel, about 150 pieces military hardware, including the state-of-the-art military equipment, missiles and artillery systems, air defence systems, as well as warships and boats. The parade also featured part of the military booty seized by the Azerbaijani Army from the destroyed enemy during the Patriotic War.
It was attended by the country’s President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s first lady Mehriban Aliyeva, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan. While addressing the nation, Aliyev stated that this parade had a special significance to the nation. “Everyone knows that the Armenian leadership said a year ago that “Karabakh is Armenia...“ And I said that Karabakh is Azerbaijan! Today, the whole world sees that Karabakh is Azerbaijan! Karabakh is ours! Karabakh is Azerbaijan! Love to the Azerbaijani Army! Long live Turkish-Azerbaijani friendship and brotherhood! Long live the Azerbaijani soldier!“ he stated.
“Life has shown that timely steps have mobilised all our strength, created an iron fist and crushed the head of the enemy. During the war, I said that our iron fist embodies both our unity and strength. And this iron fist broke the back of the enemy, crushed the head of the enemy. Today we celebrate this holiday as a heroic nation. The victorious Azerbaijani army has fulfilled its historic mission. He defeated Armenia. The Armenian Army is almost non-existent and destroyed. After that, if Armenian fascism rises again, the result will be the same. Again, Azerbaijan's iron fist will break their backbone,” he added. Aliyev also said that now a new era begins for his country, namely an “building era.” He also emphasised that the war had shown that there was a military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Aliyev’s Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke on how Armenia’s leadership should make decisive steps following their defeat in the war. “Those who brought Karabakh nothing but massacres and tears should gather their wits. We wish Armenian politicians to take brave steps regarding peace and stability. Despite all the sufferings of his people, my brother Ilham Aliyev demonstrates commendable behaviour,” he said. “We are waiting for decisive steps from Armenia. We want the Armenians to get rid of the diaspora’s oppression, to demonstrate good-neighbourly relations instead of hostility. If the Armenian people draw conclusions from the events in Karabakh, this will lead to the beginning of a new era in the region,” Erdogan added.
Prior to the parade, Aliyev and Erdogan held a one-on-one meeting where a number of bilateral documents were signed.
