“Yes, this is indeed true,” Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov replied laconically and yet briefly when asked by Russian journalists whether Azerbaijani media reports about the beginning of the withdrawal of the Russian peacekeeping contingent from the Karabakh region corresponded to reality. In turn, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan – Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev said: “The highest leadership of both countries has decided on the early withdrawal from the territory of our country of the peacekeepers of the Russian Federation temporarily stationed on the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the basis of the Trilateral Statement of 10 November 2020. The process has already started, the Ministries of Defence of Azerbaijan and Russia are taking measures to implement this decision”.
So, the process has begun. The Russian peacekeeping contingent is leaving Azerbaijan. Let me remind you that the contingent consists of 1,960 servicemen equipped with small arms, 90 armoured personnel carriers and 380 units of automotive and special equipment.
The Russian peacekeeping contingent was deployed in the territory of Azerbaijan in accordance with the Trilateral Statement of November 10, 2020. The statement did not specify the goals and purpose of the contingent, but they emerged from the context. The Russian peacekeeping contingent was tasked, on the one hand, to separate the warring parties and, on the other hand, to prevent excesses between Azerbaijanis and Armenians at the initial stage of reintegration.
At the moment, we do not set ourselves the task of assessing and delving into an analysis of the results of the activities of Russian peacekeeping contingent in Azerbaijan. Yes, during various periods of the mission, there were misunderstandings and indignation, which our website repeatedly covered. However, all this is a thing of the past. From a symbolic point of view, the withdrawal of the Russian peacekeeping contingent from Karabakh marks the triumph of the sovereignty of the Azerbaijani state.
Azerbaijan demonstrated a high level of political culture, achieving this result without loud showdowns with Russia, without diplomatic scandals, exchange of barbs and, naturally, without armed incidents, using all the baggage of political and diplomatic interaction.
It is necessary to add here: the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers will inevitably lead to a new quality of Russian-Azerbaijani relations, and therefore will free up energy for new joint projects in all areas of activity. To put it quite simply, nothing will darken relations between the two countries.
The period from 2020 to 2024 is thus a vivid example of the state-strategic thinking of President Ilham Aliyev and his team, who systematically, step by step, restored the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, using diplomacy where necessary and the “Iron Fist” where necessary. However, it is necessary to make a correction: 2020-2024 is only the tip of the iceberg, under which are hidden long years of efforts, tension of will and intellect, state and military construction, in a word, sweat and blood. Perhaps the best leitmotif of the entire period of preparation and implementation of the plan to restore sovereignty are the words of President Aliyev, which he said in his address to the people: “I know what, when and how to do”.
However, let me digress a little. As you know, there is a certain group among Azerbaijanis who are always looking for something to pick on, the haters of everything that the Azerbaijani authorities do. There is also the so-called opposition, entrenched in the West and fulfilling orders for dollars and euros. The essence of the claims of both of them was that Russia would never leave Karabakh and that Baku itself brought peacekeepers to Karabakh. After the 44-day war, they said that the Azerbaijani army would not enter Khojaly, Asgaran, Aghdara, Khojavand and Khankendi. When our army entered these settlements and President Aliyev raised the flag of Azerbaijan in the central square of Khankendi, they started to say that it was not a reason for joy, because the Russian peacekeepers would never leave. And now the day has finally come when the peacekeepers are leaving the Karabakh region. What do you say this time?
All in all, a comical situation. Well, everything is clear with the Western-fed opposition. But I would like to advise all other haters to keep common sense. And common sense suggests that Azerbaijan has managed to solve the most difficult task – without conflict with one of the main states of the region (and the world) to restore and strengthen its sovereignty in a region traditionally ruled by major powers through conflict manipulation. Thus, in this context, it would not be out of place to mention an important idea – Azerbaijan has thus become an example for the entire South Caucasus. Strengthening Azerbaijan’s sovereignty is the cornerstone of the stability and security of the entire region.
Murad Abiyev
Caliber.Az
