Foreign

Home page

Foreign

MP: We liberated our lands without stooping to the level of the barbarians who caused suffering to our people

16 October 2026 10:22 (UTC +04:00)

President Ilham Aliyev once again demonstrated Azerbaijan's humanitarian stance by stating, " We did not stoop to the level of the barbarians and child killers who caused so much suffering to our people," during his speech at the 7th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), MP Hikmat Babaoghlu told APA.

The MP noted that this is of great importance in understanding the political position demonstrated by Azerbaijan during the war and in the post-conflict period: "The head of state's statement, ' We did not stoop to the level of the barbarians and child killers who caused so much suffering to our people,' reflects that Azerbaijan, despite the tragedies it faced during the conflict, determined its conduct within the framework of legal and moral principles."

Azerbaijan's position during the war

Hikmat Babaoghlu noted that wars are assessed not only by military operations but also by attitudes toward the safety of civilians, compliance with international humanitarian law, and steps taken to establish peace after the war: "In this regard, President Ilham Aliyev once again emphasizes that Azerbaijan did not choose to respond with the same methods to the acts it says were committed against it. The Azerbaijani people have faced the severe consequences of the conflict for many years. The destruction of settlements as a result of the occupation, the displacement of people from their native lands, and the loss of civilian lives have left deep scars in the memory of society. Recalling these events is not only intended to remember the past but also to ensure that the humanitarian consequences of wars are not forgotten. The protection of civilians, especially children, is one of the most important issues during wartime. International humanitarian law requires parties to a conflict to protect civilians and comply with the principles of distinction and proportionality in military operations. These principles must be applied regardless of political positions or which side of the conflict raises them."

The MP emphasized that President Ilham Aliyev once again highlighted that Azerbaijan did not equate its own conduct with the actions of the opposing side in its response to the events it faced during the war: "The strength of a state is not measured solely by its military capabilities. Even in wartime, the protection of civilians, respect for international obligations, and adherence to humanitarian principles are important indicators of a state's policy. Therefore, the point emphasized in the head of state's speech is a political message that Azerbaijan carried out its actions not out of an emotional desire for revenge, but within the framework of state responsibility and the legal principles it had established. Calls for revenge may emerge in societies that have faced the severe consequences of war. However, to establish lasting peace, it is important to investigate past tragedies through legal mechanisms, hold those responsible accountable, and establish mechanisms to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future."

Humanitarian principles and respect for international law

Hikmat Babaoghlu noted that the principles of international humanitarian law should serve as the basis for assessing the consequences of conflicts in modern international relations: "The protection of civilians, treatment of prisoners, protection of civilian infrastructure, and facilitation of humanitarian aid are among the obligations of parties during armed conflicts. In his speech, President Ilham Aliyev thereby draws attention to the humanitarian aspect of the war and emphasizes the importance of the human factor in assessing the conflict. The suffering of those who lost their lives as a result of the war, families who lost their loved ones, and people who were separated from their native lands for a long time must not be forgotten in political discussions. A position based on international law should not be limited to condemning individual incidents. At the same time, concrete steps must be taken to eliminate the causes of conflicts, protect the rights of affected individuals, and ensure that future generations can live in peace."

Preserving peace and looking to the future

The MP emphasized that one of the main tasks facing Azerbaijan in the post-conflict period is to strengthen lasting peace and security in the region: "To achieve this, it is important to establish mutual trust between states, respect the inviolability of borders, comply with international law, and expand opportunities for cooperation. Preserving historical memory of past events and pursuing a forward-looking peace policy are not contradictory. On the contrary, ensuring that tragedies are not forgotten, investigating them from legal and historical perspectives, and addressing the accountability of those responsible through lawful means can help prevent similar incidents in the future. The statements made by President Ilham Aliyev at the 7th CICA Summit reflect Azerbaijan's position that, despite the difficulties it faced during the conflict, it did not determine its own conduct based on the actions of the opposing side. To ensure sustainable peace in the region, lessons from the past must be taken into account, the safety of civilians must be protected, and relations between states must be built on the norms of international law."