Another interview of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was full of many dangerous statements. The leader of the enemy country, using the language of threats, spoke again about the so-called "Zangezur Corridor", saying: "Zangezur Corridor" must be opened and will be opened. The sooner they understand that, the better."
In addition, Aliyev spoke about the need for Azerbaijanis to return to "West Azerbaijan", as well as directly describing Armenia as a "fascist country".
According to experts, these and other statements of Aliyev are the prelude to another war. Is Armenia, which is supposedly at peace, facing a new large-scale war?MediaHubtried to find out by talking with the former chief of the general staff of the RA Armed Forces, former chief military inspector, colonel-general Movses Hakobyan.
Mr. Hakobyan, Aliyev made repeated threats yesterday, hinted once again that he will achieve all his demands, in particular, we are talking about the "Zangezur Corridor". In addition, Aliyev sets a condition for us to return the weapons and ammunition that we acquired after the 44-day war, because he considers the arming of our country a threat to his country.
- I gave the answer to that.
When?
- I talk about threats every year.
My question is specifically about the statements made yesterday. Was Aliyev playing a prelude to war?
- I don't do fortune telling.
Mr. Hakobyan, you are a skilled military figure, and in your case we expect to hear not a guess, but an analysis.
- I have said many times: the document of November 9, if you read it carefully, not a single word or letter is written there by chance, everything is written there.
But almost all points of the statement of November 9 were ignored by Azerbaijan, they do not follow those points.
- How come they don't follow?
According to the eighth point, prisoners should be returned, but Armenian human rights defenders claim that not all prisoners from Baku prisons have returned to Armenia, and we are talking about people captured in 2020. According to the ninth point, the roads should be unblocked. And so on.
- You did not read the document carefully. Who says there was no return of captives? Until November 9, Azerbaijan returned all prisoners. I advise you to read the document with a lawyer to understand to whom the return of captives concerns. According to my information, until November 9, all captured citizens have been returned.
But human rights defenders note that according to their calculations, at least 80 cases are simply not confirmed. And this number has nothing to do with the military-political leadership of Artsakh.
- Azerbaijan denies those rumors.
In other words, do you believe in Azerbaijan?
- I tend to believe facts, not words.
Well, if you believe the facts, please state whether we are actually at peace now. The statement of November 9 implied that the parties stand where they were at the time of signing the statement. After that, the enemy advanced in at least three points: Vayots Dzor, Syunik, Gegharkunik.
- The November 9 document was not a peace agreement.
But the parties should no longer advance, and every advance of Azerbaijan was a war.
- Azerbaijan has come forward because we have created favorable conditions for it.
Now Aliyev is talking about "Western Azerbaijan" and "Zangezur Corridor", the government of our country is silently following these statements, is all this a favorable condition, will Aliyev reach the "Zangezur Corridor"?
- I say again, my point of view is clear, but I cannot express it.
Why?
- I have sounded it many times, I don't want to. It is necessary to sober up, nothing else.
What do you think, is this government sober, if we take the recent events into account? Generals are arrested...
- I have given evaluations many times, I don't want to repeat it again, because it makes no sense. Our society does not need it.
In other words, should we lose half a handful of our remaining homeland, because no one wants to make a clear assessment, talk about the dangers?
- I gave my assessment about 40 times.
It may be necessary to speak 40 more times to get the public out of this stupor.
- When it is necessary, I will do it.
Is there no such need now?
- Of course not.
Aren't Aliyev's statements yesterday an indication that there is such a need?
- For a sober person, yes, but for society, no.
In other words, do you not hope to see the society sober?
- I say again, I have spoken many times and I have not seen results. There is no point in saying it again.
Summarizing the conversation, Mr. Hakobyan, do you expect war in the near future?
- All the countries of the world are preparing and waiting for war. Armenia should not be left behind.
