On June 30, the Baku Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network devoted to the topic "Strengthening the role of national parliaments in promoting world peace and sustainable development" began at the Heydar Aliyev Center. Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijani President, gave a speech at this meeting.
"Azerbaijan has always demonstrated its position on regional and global issues. As the chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement, we will continue to fight against injustice, violation of international law, selective approach, and discrimination against various conflicts. As I mentioned, the unanimous decision to grant the chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement and its extension demonstrated the countries' attitude towards Azerbaijan. Another important sign of solidarity we saw in the most difficult times in our country was when we were liberating our territories after almost 30 years of Armenian occupation. We were fighting on our land. We were restoring justice and international law, but unfortunately, some countries launched a campaign against us, a discrediting campaign of slander and blackmail," Aliyev flagged.
He added: "Unfortunately, it was not only a verbal campaign or public accusations. Some countries tried to bring this issue, our due cause, to the United Nations, to the Security Council. But, our friends, members of NAM, at that time members of the UN Security Council, blocked an anti-Azerbaijani statement and blocked the attempt of accusation against Azerbaijan and thus, did not allow pro-Armenian global forces to attack Azerbaijan. We are very grateful for that, for your solidarity."
"We ended this conflict, restoring justice and international law. In my speech at the Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Baku in 2019, I mentioned that we would defend justice and international law. We knew very well what it means to be unable to restore them, to depend on others. We have been waiting for this for many years, about 30 years. We were waiting for the international community to help end the injustice and the occupation. For this purpose, the OSCE established the Minsk Group in 1992, and it was supposed to find a solution to this conflict. That is, the occupation should be stopped. "On the contrary, the Minsk Group has become a tool in the hands of those who want this conflict to last forever," he said.
He added that there is no need for the Minsk Group after Azerbaijan resolved the conflict, ended the occupation, and restored territorial integrity through military and political means. “We have already said goodbye to the Minsk Group. Unfortunately, Armenia and others are trying to revive it. But this is impossible. It is already dead. As a country that has suffered from occupation, we state this openly. I think that any speculation about the OSCE Minsk group is not only unproductive but at the same time, for the establishment of possible peace in the region has a devastating effect," the President of Azerbaijan underlined.
"As we have seen, the sole purpose of the Minsk Group's activities was to freeze the conflict and keep our lands under occupation forever. We put an end to that policy and liberated our lands thanks to the strength and political wisdom," he concluded.
