Ukrainians, never give up – Ilham Aliyev

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressed the third Shusha International Media Forum in Khonjendir on July 19, where he responded to questions from journalists. Answering a question from Ukrainian journalist Dmitry Gordon, Aliyev advised Ukraine and its people—who have been resisting Russian aggression for three years—to never give up.

“Dear Mr. President, we watched with amazement how Azerbaijan, under your leadership, regained its land and restored its territorial integrity. This is a very inspiring example for us, and Ukrainians are grateful to you for repeatedly and openly expressing your support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This will not be forgotten. For many years, we have been living under the harshest conditions of war, when the very existence of the Ukrainian state is at stake. What advice can you, as the leader of a victorious nation, give to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people?” Gordon asked.

“Thank you for your words about our country and about the work we did to restore sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Aliyev replied. “A few years ago, I had the opportunity to answer a similar question from a Ukrainian representative at another event. My answer today remains the same. I believe it reflects the aspirations of the Ukrainian people: never agree to occupation! That is the main advice. This is what we did—or rather, how we saw the process.”

Aliyev recalled the First Karabakh War, describing it as a difficult and tragic period with many victims, including the genocide of Azerbaijanis in Khojaly, which is located just a few kilometers from Shusha.

He emphasized that the post-war period was extremely challenging both morally and economically. “We had one million people who lost their livelihoods: more than 700,000 from the regions of Azerbaijan, including Karabakh, and about 250,000 Azerbaijanis living in Armenia who were deported. At that time, the population of our country was only 8 million. So, in terms of refugees per capita, this was one of the highest rates in the world.”

Aliyev described the dire state of Azerbaijan at that time: “We had no money, the treasury was empty, practically no one supported us, and we received no serious international assistance. The economy was in ruins, inflation reached 1,000 percent, unemployment was rampant, and poverty was nearly total. This was the situation when Heydar Aliyev came to power. Our people were fortunate because he was a leader they could turn to in difficult times. Even though he was already 70 years old, in poor health, and seriously ill, he managed to stabilize the situation.”

He also mentioned the internal turmoil of that period: “There was a civil war as well. But gradually, we began to rise again. We focused on only one goal—and I am sure the vast majority of our citizens would agree with this—returning the occupied territories. We knew it would be difficult.”

Aliyev described the challenges faced during the liberation of the occupied lands. “The terrain was against us. You came here from Fuzuli. On October 17, the city of Fuzuli was liberated, and after that, our Armed Forces advanced along an almost non-existent road near Khonjendi and climbed the Shusha rocks. We proved on the battlefield that we were ready for anything, even to sacrifice our lives, facing five or six rows of fortifications. That is why we all lived for this one purpose: to reclaim the territories left to us by our ancestors.”

He added that the international situation was also unfavorable. “The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, each for their reasons, were on Armenia’s side, trying to preserve the situation forever. The status quo did not change. Even when we managed to secure some statement on behalf of the co-chair countries through incredible diplomatic efforts, it would later be rejected.”

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev continued his remarks at the third Shusha International Media Forum, elaborating on the long and difficult path that led to the restoration of his country’s territorial integrity.

“I remember how enthusiastically we welcomed the joint statement by the presidents of the United States, France, and Russia declaring that the status quo was unacceptable. It was a serious declaration, and it took us a long time to achieve it. But later, they changed just one word—replacing ‘unacceptable’ with ‘unstable.’ In other words, they signaled that it was acceptable. This was acceptable for Armenia, for the Minsk Group co-chairs, for certain countries. It was unacceptable only for us,” Aliyev said.

He recalled the years of fruitless negotiations: “Throughout the negotiation process—17 years since I joined in late 2003—there were countless proposals, meetings, and messages suggesting we should come to terms with reality. When I said ‘no,’ it was perceived as an inadequate reaction against powerful forces. The general narrative was: they don’t agree; they’re being offered conditional independence for the separatists, but they won’t accept it.”

Aliyev emphasized that all of Azerbaijan’s arguments based on international law, including four UN Security Council resolutions demanding the withdrawal of Armenian troops, were ignored. “Even the Minsk Group co-chairs who voted for these resolutions turned a blind eye. It all hit a wall of arrogance that insisted we accept the situation. So we decided to create new realities—and force them to accept those instead. That’s exactly what we did in 2020 in just 44 days. And they had no choice but to come to terms with it. And again, in September 2023, they were forced to accept it.”

The president stressed that his message might seem simple, but it was shaped by years of struggle—on the battlefield, at the negotiating table, and even after sovereignty was fully restored.

“If I listed all the threats, pressure, blackmail, and other unacceptable actions by certain foreign actors, it would not be a pleasant picture. It would require a separate discussion. But my key point remains the same: never give up and never accept the violation of territorial integrity,” he said.

Aliyev also responded to a question from an Uzbek journalist about his late father, Heydar Aliyev. “You know, he wanted more than anyone to see the day we would return to Karabakh. But it didn’t happen in his lifetime. I was president for 17 years before we liberated these lands. If we hadn’t had the opportunity, we would have waited another 17 years, and another if needed. It wasn’t about me—it’s not about personality or ambition. It’s about responsibility to our ancestors and to future generations.”

He added that he was morally ready for someone else to complete the mission if necessary. “If I knew we couldn’t return the territories, we would have waited. And maybe another 17 years. And maybe it wouldn’t have been me. But deep down, I understood that if I didn’t do it, it was unlikely anyone else could.”

Aliyev also spoke about the loss of faith among former refugees. “As the years went by, I saw the hope in their eyes fade. They would tell me kind words, saying ‘yes, we believe,’ but you could see in their eyes that faith was almost gone. Even I had little faith in justice. But our Victory was just, a complete Victory, proving that justice exists. It just needs to be achieved. And to achieve it, you must work for it every single day, bring victory closer every day, and dedicate your life to it.”

Finally, Aliyev highlighted the importance of national unity. “The most important factor was the unity of society. It was this unity that gave me moral strength as President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief. I was confident that the people would stand behind me. And that was probably one of the decisive factors. So I return to where I started—never give up!”