President calls on Azerbaijanis to be strong

By Vestnik Kavkaza

Nowruz has been celebrated in Azerbaijan for centuries, but only after independence has it been celebrated as an official holiday. This has a special meaning - in Baku people seem to emphasize that the independence of the state is built on national values and traditions. Azerbaijanis have lived for centuries as part of other states, empires, but they managed to preserve their national values - literature, art, native language and themselves as nation.

However, as President Ilham Aliyev stated while congratulating the people on Nowruz, "not everyone likes the independent policy. Therefore, pressure is increasing on us, some foreign circles are waging an open campaign against Azerbaijan. This campaign, in fact, has never stopped. Just on the eve of important international events, it becomes more ugly." Azerbaijan was faced with this three years ago, on the eve of Eurovision 2012 in Baku, and sees the same thing on the eve of the first European games, when "experts", "political scientists" and former government officials are trying to represent Azerbaijan in the media as an underdeveloped, undemocratic, unfree country. However, the development of recent years, urbanization, exhibitions, conferences, the presentation of the Azerbaijani culture provides enough information about Azerbaijan.

According to the president, in world politics it is not international law that prevails, but hypocrisy, double standards, discrimination, racism, Islamophobia and xenophobia. At the same time, in Azerbaijan, representatives of all nationalities and religions are living like one family.

"We were elected to the UN Security Council - the most influential structure of the world - with the support of 155 countries. Let the countries that are trying to blame us try to be elected with the support of 155 countries, we’ll see how they succeed ... Azerbaijan is a small country, but we have enough power to have our say, to influence the processes that are taking place in the region and on the continent," Aliyev said.

The main problem of Azerbaijan remains the restoration of territorial integrity. In August, September and October three summits were held, designed to solve the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh. But almost immediately after the last summit, Armenia began large-scale military exercises in Agdam, on the occupied territories, despite the agreement reached, to reduce the tension on the contact line. However, as a result of provocation, dozens of Armenian soldiers were killed and today the Azerbaijani army is in full control of the situation on the contact line. President Aliyev said that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be resolved only within the internationally recognized territorial integrity of Azerbaijan: "We have to return and we will return to this land. We have to work hard every day to bring that day closer. Therefore, Azerbaijan must become even stronger. "

The creation of the army has become the main task now. Therefore, for these purposes a lot of money has been allocated and the Azerbaijani army, in terms of preparedness, equipment and weapons, is among the most advanced armies in the world.

Today's opponents accuse Baku of a lack of democracy, while in other parts of the world, including in Europe, a complete mess is going on. Just yesterday, in the center of Europe hundreds of protesters were beaten and arrested. "In other places, people are strangled, shot and killed. And no one is responsible for it. Where are the non-governmental organizations which accused us? Why are they silent? Why do they not raise their voices? Why do they not blame these countries? They don't have the guts? Or is it a policy of double standards? Why are international structures not spreading the declarations? Why are resolutions not adopted?" Aliyev asked rhetorically.

On his numerous meetings with foreign colleagues, as well as with the heads of international organizations, he repeatedly asked these questions, but they were not answered.
International law has become a tool for powerful states, so the president urged Azerbaijanis to be strong - a strong army is needed, a strong economy, civil consensus and, of course, well thought-out policy and social justice.