Former Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia Arman Tatoyan wrote:
“The President of Azerbaijan proves with his speech yesterday that he has no real intentions for peace and is arming himself to be ready for war against Armenia.
Below are the facts that the Azerbaijani government continues state-sponsored racism (“evil”, “sick” and other insults) against Armenians and plans to occupy Armenia, while declaring that it is building up its military power to be ready for war against Armenia.
In a parallel reality, the Armenian authorities, for the sake of their obsession with maintaining political power, continue to consistently dull the vigilance of our society. The government spokesman says that the Defense Ministry’s spending will be cut in 2025, moreover, government propagandists distort reality and preach that Azerbaijan will abandon the program of occupying “Western Azerbaijan”. etc.
I will cite just a few quotes from yesterday’s speech by the President of Azerbaijan to prove that the government, in this language, does not pursue peaceful goals towards Armenia.
“The most modern unmanned aerial vehicles, new artillery systems have been brought to our country. Contracts have been signed to purchase new combat aircraft, and the existing ones have been completely modernized. We must be ready for war at any moment (…) We, the state, the people and our armed forces are the guarantors of our security.”
“We did not do to them [editor’s note: meaning the Armenians] what they did to us. However, what they did will never be erased from our memory. Including the “war crimes” committed against the people of Kelbajar, the “genocide”, the “Khojaly genocide”, the hostility and cruelty towards our citizens from other regions will never be erased from our memory and should not be erased. I say this both as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the country that won the war, and today as a participant in the peace process with Armenia, with the defeated Armenia. (…) that the bloody history should never be erased from our memory, we should never be deceived by sweet words, we should be vigilant. (…) In other words, we should know who we are facing, who our neighbor is. We should never forget our past and be vigilant. Today I say it again: we declare ourselves a victorious nation. We will not forget this evil, this barbarity.” These are not my wishes or assessments, these are facts from which everyone can draw a conclusion, asking themselves whether these facts belong to a state whose government strives for peace.