Azerbaijani President still  linking peace to amendments to Armenia`s  Constitution

ArmInfo. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has praised the process of normalizing Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. He expressed  this viewpoint in an interview with FRANCE 24 in Munich.

Aliyev expressed hope that, once the legal formalities are completed,  in reference  to the amendments to the Armenian Constitution and the  preceding referendum, a formal peace will be established. He also  emphasized that peace has already been achieved for Azerbaijan.  Noting that a historic document was signed at the White House, the  Azerbaijani leader confirmed that the conflict between Armenia and  Azerbaijan is over. "We have entered a period of peace, which I hope  will last forever," the head of state said. 

The interviewer also touched on the issue of the military-political  leadership of the Republic of Artsakh, currently imprisoned in Baku,  and their harsh life sentences. In this vein, Aliyev said that this  issue had been discussed with the US Vice President during his recent  visit to the region. "I have expressed Azerbaijan's position, and  that was it," the President said, expressing his categorical stance  on pardoning Artsakh's leaders.

Regarding the forcibly displaced citizens of Nagorno-Karabakh, he  noted that Azerbaijan had offered them to apply for citizenship or to  apply for a work permit. "But they chose to leave for Armenia," he  said.

Aliyev also pointed out the issue of Azerbaijani refugees, to whom  the Armenian authorities have not offered return. "We must consider  this issue in the context of reciprocity. The right of return is a  universal right, and Azerbaijan will certainly respect it if it  receives such an appeal," he said.

Recall, on September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan, under the pretext of an  "anti-terrorist operation," committed another act of aggression  against Artsakh. As a result of the enemy's military aggression,  hundreds of Artsakh residents were wounded, and more than 200 deaths,  including civilians, were reported. On September 20, Artsakh fell.  Azerbaijan began the forcible subjugation of the NKR. Furthermore,  late on the evening of September 20, it became known that Azerbaijan  had deliberately fired upon two vehicles of the Russian peacekeeping  contingent stationed in Artsakh, killing six people, including the  deputy commander of the Russian Peacekeeping Forces. On September 22,  the dissolution of the Artsakh Defense Army began.  During search  operations from September 21 to 24, the NKR Ministry of Internal  Affairs discovered the bodies of 105 Artsakh residents, including  brutally murdered children and elderly people. Today, Artsakh is  completely de-Armenianized, and its entire indigenous population-over  120,000 people-was forced to flee to Armenia under threat of physical  violence. In total, since the enemy aggression that began in the fall  of 2020, which culminated in the complete ethnic cleansing of Artsakh  in September 2023, over 150,000 Artsakh residents have become  refugees.

It is worth noting that the exact number of Armenian prisoners of  war and hostages held in Azerbaijani prisons is still unknown.  Experts estimate the number to be in the hundreds. In early February,  after a sham trial that lasted nearly two years, a Baku court  sentenced former Artsakh Defense Army Commander General Levon  Mnatsakanyan, his deputy David Manukyan, former president of the  unrecognized republic Arayik Harutyunyan, former Foreign Minister  David Babayan, and NKR Parliament Speaker David Ishkhanyan to life  imprisonment. Former Artsakh presidents Arkady Ghukasyan and Bako  Sahakyan were sentenced to 20 years in prison. 

The prosecutor had previously requested a life sentence for former  Artsakh state minister, renowned businessman, and philanthropist  Ruben Vardanyan. On February 10, he delivered his closing statement  at the Baku court. Refusing to participate in the sham justice, Ruben  Vardanyan spoke of dignity, responsibility, and peace, which is only  possible between equals. " On February 10, I delivered my final  statement in court, instructing my lawyer not to present any defense  arguments, because I consider what is taking place not a real trial,  but a judicial farce. There has been no genuine possibility for a  fair judicial process. Therefore, despite the judges' resistance, my  lawyer remained silent and did not present any arguments or  justifications. I also said that I am proud to represent the Armenian  people here, in this court.  I am not afraid of any punishment or  decision and am ready to accept it with complete calm, because what  is taking place is not a trial, but a farce.

Unfortunately, they did not use the opportunity. They did not take  advantage of the chance to conduct a genuine judicial process that  could have laid the foundation for truly long-term peace. Instead,  they organized an incomprehensible, unprofessional spectacle which,  regrettably, benefitted no one - least of all, the Azerbaijani state  itself. I am convinced of this."