[COLUMNIST] November 8 - More than just a victory

NOVEMBER 8 is celebrated in Azerbaijan as Victory Day. In 2020, the Azerbaijani army ended nearly 30 years of Armenian occupation over significant part of the country's territory in just 44 days. This date also marks the liberation of Shusha, the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World, from Armenian occupation. Following this liberation, opportunities were extended to Armenian residents to integrate into Azerbaijani society for humanitarian purposes. Unfortunately, these opportunities went unheeded. Armed, racially motivated mafias, who continued to threaten the sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan, were finally neutralized by the Azerbaijani army in September 2023. Despite Azerbaijan’s continuous assurances of safe treatment, the Armenian minority chose to leave the country.

In September 2023, the fact-finding mission of the United Nations confirmed that Armenians left Karabakh voluntarily and “did not come across any reports - neither from the local population interviewed nor from the interlocutors - of incidences of violence against civilians following the latest ceasefire.” This fact was confirmed by the call of the Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan to the Karabakh Armenians, who tried to convince them to stay in Karabakh. “Our assessment at the moment is that there is no direct threat to the civilian population of Karabakh,” he said on September 21, 2023—a day after the termination of Azerbaijan’s anti-terror measures.

The importance of November 8 extends beyond Azerbaijan, carrying a broader significance for whole humanity due to the following factors:

1. Restoration of International Law`s Dignity: November 8 symbolizes the restoration of respect for international law. The operations of the Azerbaijani army implemented binding UN Security Council Resolutions 822, 853, 874, and 884, adopted in 1993. Unfortunately, the non-enforcement of these four binding resolutions for nearly 30 years, despite Azerbaijan's persistent calls, remained unaddressed.

2. Enhanced Importance of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (Middle Corridor): The revitalization of the region, transforming it from a "war zone" or "frozen zone" into an area of progress, has highlighted the strategic importance of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor. This corridor promises significant advantages in terms of time and cost for international transport. Azerbaijan’s diplomatic efforts have been crucial in facilitating this transformation. At the 8th International Silk Road Expo in Xi’an, China, on September 19–20, the China Railway Container Transport Corporation announced its participation in the Middle Corridor Multimodal joint venture with Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. On October 3, a high-level event in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, saw the European Union, Türkiye, Central Asian and South Caucasus countries, and major international financial institutions establish a Coordination Platform for the Middle Corridor.

3. The 3+3 Regional Cooperation Platform: The role of the November 8 in the functioning and importance of the 3+3 regional cooperation platform consisting of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia “plus” three surrounding powers (Turkey, Iran, and Russia), which provides an environment where cooperation opportunities can be discussed among the countries in the region, has been significant. Following the 3+3 platform meeting on October 18 in Istanbul, Türkiye’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hakan Fidan, emphasized the platform’s importance, stating: “Our perspective on the South Caucasus is… based on a sense of regional ownership. We believe that the states of the region know the regional problems best and are capable of solving them.”

4. Significant Progress Toward Peace and Demarcation Efforts: The positive outcomes stemming from November 8 have led to meaningful progress in finalizing a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia and significant steps towards the delimitation and demarcation of their state borders. Before 2020, the prospect of peace in the South Caucasus was nothing more than a distant hope.

5. COP Truce: Azerbaijan will host the United Nations Framework Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) from November 11 to 22, 2024. Within the framework of this important and large-scale event, November 8 provided the opportunity for the Azerbaijani side to launch the COP Truce initiative.

Despite these achievements, the age-old reality of the life - “clash between good and evil” - continues to manifest itself. Armenia's rearmament, its reluctance or delay in amending constitutional articles that undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighboring states, and its hesitation to fulfill commitments regarding regional transportation and communication routes are actions that, unfortunately, serve the interests of “Evil” to the detriment of humanity.

Azerbaijani diplomacy, as it has in the past and will in the future, remains committed to its human-centered initiatives to triumph over such challenges.

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Dr. Elsevar Salmanov is the Counselor-Deputy Head of Mission for Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan

** The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.

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