Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev created an event by traveling for the first time to Stepanakert, capital of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region recaptured from Armenian separatists last September. This symbolic move marks Azerbaijan’s sovereignty over this area that has been disputed for decades.
During his visit to Stepanakert, Ilham Aliyev raised the Azerbaijani flag in the city’s central square, recalling his country’s victory in the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in recent months. This historic visit takes on a special character for the Azerbaijani president, who has made the resumption of Nagorno-Karabakh his main objective since the start of his mandate 20 years ago.
This trip to Stepanakert is a surprise for many observers. Dressed in khaki military fatigues, Ilham Aliev also raised the Azerbaijani flag in other localities of Nagorno-Karabakh, thus marking his country’s sovereignty over the entire region.
Azerbaijan’s recapture of Nagorno-Karabakh was a real victory for Baku, which won a blitzkrieg against Armenian separatists. However, the conflict has left deep scars and tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia remain high. Armenia says it is concerned for its security and has ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, hoping to see alleged war crimes committed by Azerbaijan investigated.
Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Stepanakert also paves the way for talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia in an attempt to reduce tensions between the two countries. A meeting between Ilham Aliev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian is planned in Brussels by the end of the month.
This historic visit by the Azerbaijani president marks a turning point in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. It underlines Azerbaijan’s desire to reunify its country by regaining total control of this disputed area. It remains to be seen how relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia will develop in the coming months.