SUCCESSES gained by the armed forces of Azerbaijan on ground and terms of the ceasefire agreement brokered by Russian Federation make it abundantly clear that Azerbaijan has all round victory in its conflict with Armenia. This is, indeed, victory of truth and righteousness and a glowing tribute to the leadership qualities of President Ilham Aliyev.
There was understandable jubilation by people in the length and breadth of Azerbaijan as armed forces of the country were able to liberate areas that were forcibly occupied by the other side long ago and their political leadership secured their interests on the negotiating table. The ceasefire agreement came shortly after the liberation of Shusha, the historical, second-largest city in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, by the Azerbaijani armed forces. There was no way out for Armenia but to accept the defeat, as Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian pointed out. The Armenian government, therefore, admitted the defeat and officially ended the conflict. Under the ceasefire agreement, Armenia has agreed to withdraw its troops from five occupied Azerbaijani areas within this month, Azerbaijan would retain control of part of Nagorno-Karabakh it liberated during the war and displaced civilians and refugees will return to Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions under the supervision of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Experts say for Azerbaijan, the most important gain is the liberation of Shusha, since it is known as the cultural centre of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. In other words, in addition to liberating the occupied regions surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh area, Azerbaijan will continue to control the liberated territories of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which means that the autonomous region will be smaller than before. The deal brings an end to hostilities and hence diminishes fear of a broader conflict but durable peace would return to the region only when there is just and permanent solution to the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh.
