"We must rely only on ourselves and our state. Our unity must never be shaken," President Ilham Aliyev said at the opening ceremony of the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum, APA reports.
The head of state recalled that he had addressed the Azerbaijani people on many occasions over the years.
"I addressed the nation both during the occupation and the war, as well as after the war. Naturally, my messages after the war were different because we were in a different situation. During the occupation, when meeting with former internally displaced persons, I always urged them not to lose hope, to remain steadfast and to believe me that we would return to these lands. I have spoken about this several times. Looking back, I can say that as the years passed, I saw their hope gradually fading. You could increasingly see sorrow and despair in people's eyes. I could not tell them when or how it would happen. I simply told them to believe, and they did. Seventeen years is not a short period. They waited, believed my words and always supported the efforts being made. My appeals during the war are also part of our recent history, and I do not want to repeat them."
President Ilham Aliyev noted that the post-war period had also been very difficult.
He stressed that Azerbaijan's achievements are founded on national unity.
"We must rely only on ourselves and our state. Our unity must never be shaken. The world is changing, and new threats and provocations are emerging. If anyone thinks that the forces hostile to us will leave us alone, they should know that this will never happen. This struggle must be continuous."
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