On 10 May, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev visited the Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan where he was interviewed by Azerbaijan’s Public Television. 

He stated that the Karabakh conflict had been resolved on the battlefield and the issue settled. “There is no administrative unit on the territory of Azerbaijan called Nagorno-Karabakh. If someone thinks that the conflict is not solved, then why was the 9 November document signed? This is not an agreement on an armistice, it is an act of surrender and if anyone is against it, we accept it as a rejection of the 9 November agreement,” he stated.  

Aliyev was particularly critical towards France and Canada for their position regarding Karabakh. “Let Canada mind its own business and not interfere in our affairs. Maybe Canada thinks it is a superpower... I reject France's statement as well. We have repeatedly demanded from Paris not to interfere in our affairs,” he said. 

“As for the revanchists in Armenia, let them not rely on anyone. If they take any steps, they will be destroyed on the spot and no one will help them. We have both strength and determination, an iron fist in place. Let those who talk about the return of Shusha and Hadrut remember this and do not press their luck,” Aliyev emphasised. 

Aliyev also focused on the security of the Autonomous Republic, as well as the economic prospects of the region after the Second Karabakh war. “Of course, the combat capability of the Nakhchivan Special Forces is also high, and the successful Gunnut operation, an operation conducted three years ago, is a graphic example of this. That operation occurred during the government change in Armenia, so the new government attempted to hush it up. We didn’t push too hard either because we need real work, not propaganda. We cleared very important strategic heights from the Armenian army and established our positions there. These heights allowed us the opportunity to have full control over strategic communications and the road from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh. During the second Karabakh war, our capacity to exercise control over this road was of great help to us in obtaining a lot of information. The opposite side is well aware that these communications being under our control can be cut off at any time and should, therefore, act accordingly, of course,” he said. 

In economic terms, Aliyev put great importance to the development of infrastructure in Nakhchivan. “Today, I attended the opening of several infrastructure projects, including the commissioning of a drinking water and sewage project in Ordubad. I am very pleased with the work that has been done in the Autonomous Republic in all areas related to roads, electricity, and gas supply. Suffice it to say that the level of gas supply has already reached 100 percent. Electricity supply has reached 100 percent and Nakhchivan has a huge energy potential. In the past, there was no electricity in Nakhchivan. There was no energy, no local sources, and the lines from Azerbaijan were cut off by Armenia. Now Nakhchivan is fully self-sufficient in terms of electricity and uses a renewable source,” he said. Aliyev also assured that the “Zangazur corridor” which would connect Nakhchivan with the Zangilan region would surely be opened.