Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev discusses Palestine, Syria and regional security

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan has been providing political, moral and material support to the Palestinian state for many years, stating, “The sooner this conflict ends, and the sooner a cease-fire is declared in Gaza, the better it will be for everyone. This is what we wish for.”

Aliyev made these remarks during an interview with local television channels on current affairs.

He also highlighted Azerbaijan’s membership in the Developing Eight (D-8) Organization as a significant achievement, thanking Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for supporting Azerbaijan’s candidacy. Aliyev stated that membership in D-8 is both an honor and a responsibility.

“Azerbaijan is part of the Muslim world. We advocate for the interests of Muslim countries in all international organizations. If there is an election for leadership in an organization and one of the candidates is a Muslim, we vote for them. We have helped many Muslim countries, but we don’t boast about it; we don’t do it openly. During the COVID-19 period, we were at the forefront of aiding the Palestinian people during their crisis,” he said.

Aliyev also mentioned that Azerbaijan was the second country after Türkiye to send humanitarian aid to Syria after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, and reiterated their willingness to continue providing assistance.

Addressing the shifting global order, Aliyev noted, “The system formed after World War II has now lost its potential. The political and moral crises in leading Western countries are evident. The gaps will continue to widen. Serious new actors with significant agendas must step in. We believe the Turkic States Organization can become a major global power center. D-8 could also fill this gap. We must not miss this opportunity and should not waste time.”

‘Armenia is a fascist state’

Aliyev also commented on Armenia‘s militarization, stating, “Armenia’s rearmament poses a new threat to the South Caucasus. Armenia’s militarization will cause new tensions. We do not want this. We want peace. We want the page of war to be closed. However, we see that Armenia and its supporters do not want this. They seek revenge. Armenia is a fascist state. This country was governed by fascist-minded people for 30 years. The 30 years of occupation policy was not only the product of Armenia but also the result of racist and Islamophobic external forces. We are neighbors with such a fascist state. Fascism must be eradicated. Either the Armenian government will eliminate it, or we will.”

Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan would not remain passive regarding Armenia’s militarization: “Armenia must immediately stop rearming. The countries supplying arms, such as France, must end their agreements. The weapons supplied must be returned. These are our conditions. Whoever understands it, understands it. When we say something, we are serious about the issue. We hope that our conditions in peace negotiations will be accepted. The OSCE Minsk Group must be dissolved, and Armenia’s constitution must be changed. If Armenia doesn’t need peace, we don’t either. We can live without a peace agreement.”

‘Zangezur Corridor must be opened and will be opened’

Aliyev also discussed the proposed transportation link between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, stating, “The Zangezur Corridor must be opened, and it will be opened. The sooner they understand this, the better. We cannot remain in this situation. We must have a direct connection with Nakhchivan. This connection does not violate Armenia’s sovereignty. They must fulfill the provisions of the November 10 Declaration.

We have been patient for over four years. We have been waiting for this to be resolved through negotiations. They must take all of this into consideration. They should not provoke us and understand that we are the decision-makers here. Azerbaijan is the leading economic and military power in the South Caucasus. In today’s world, the power factor is at the forefront. No one should forget this.”

‘What benefits Türkiye, benefits us as well’

Aliyev expressed satisfaction with the changes in Syria and the improvement of relations between Türkiye and the new Syrian government. He emphasized Azerbaijan’s support for Türkiye’s efforts in ensuring the stability of its southern neighbor, stating, “Türkiye, suffering from PKK terrorism, rightfully demands the elimination of terrorism outside its borders. Not only does Türkiye demand this, but it also achieves it. Türkiye’s role in Syria’s development is crucial.”

Aliyev added that after the collapse of the Assad regime, he congratulated President Erdogan and informed him of Azerbaijan’s support. “We started contributing to Syria with Türkiye’s support. With Türkiye’s logistical assistance, the first aid convoy was sent. Without Türkiye’s logistical support, this would not have been possible.

Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs delegation also visited Syria with Türkiye’s assistance. We want to contribute to Syria so that terrorism is eradicated at least along Türkiye’s borders. I believe this will lead to a significant geopolitical shift. There should be no place for terrorism along Türkiye’s other borders either. As Türkiye’s ally, we are always by their side. Türkiye knows this.”

Aliyev also highlighted the growing strength of Azerbaijan-Türkiye relations under the Shusha Declaration, saying, “What benefits Türkiye, benefits us as well. Our security, our interests, and our future are united. A completely new situation has emerged in the Middle East. The strong Türkiye factor will play a leading role here. We are by Türkiye’s side. Our strength will only grow.

You won’t find two countries as closely connected as Türkiye and Azerbaijan anywhere in the world. We are very optimistic. The changes in Syria make us extremely happy—first for Türkiye, then for ourselves. For 12 years, we had no diplomatic relations. Under Assad’s rule, Syria always supported Armenia. Armenia considered Syria a close ally.”

‘We have been providing political, moral, and material support to the Palestinian state for many years’

Regarding the Palestinian issue, Aliyev stated, “We are in favor of a two-state solution. The establishment of an independent Palestinian state will end this conflict. Everyone must understand this. We have been providing political, moral, and material support to the Palestinian state for many years.

The Palestinian Embassy has been operating in Baku for a long time. The sooner this conflict ends and a ceasefire is declared in Gaza, the better it will be for everyone. This is what we desire.”