E. Guaylupo. Diplomatic correspondent.
On 27th September, the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Spain held a ceremony to commemorate the first anniversary of the war which took place from September 27 to November 8, 2020. The ceremony was attended by the ambassadors of Georgia, Turkey and Pakistan, as well as Miguel Álvarez de Eulate, Director of the Spanish Foundation for International and Strategic Studies (FESEI); Enrique Gaspar, Secretary General of the Instituto Seda España; Rosa Olazábal, President of Peace and Cooperation; Carlos Matilla Reyes del Pulgar, JYL correspondent academician from Spain as well as diplomatic representatives of various foreign embassies accredited in this country and members of the Azerbaijani community living in Madrid.
Before the event began, participants made a floral offering in the commemorative corner of the fallen soldiers, in front of the embassy headquarters. A photo gallery dedicated to the attacks against the Azerbaijani civilian population was displayed. A minute of silence was then observed in tribute to all the soldiers who gave their lives for Azerbaijan.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ramiz Hasanov, emphasized in his speech that, in accordance with the statement of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, it was reported that the former conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan had ended and that there is no longer a territorial administrative unit in Azerbaijan called Nagorno-Karabakh.
Ramiz Hasanov said the Azerbaijani Government is currently undertaking restoration and reconstruction work in the territories following the war and strong measures are being taken to ensure the safe and dignified return of one million of displaced Azerbaijanis. In accordance with the Trilateral Declaration of 10th November 2020, the Government of Azerbaijan is taking coherent, large-scale measures to ensure lasting peace, security and prosperity in the region.
He concluded by declaring that the end of the war has opened a new era in the history of Azerbaijan, contributing to international justice and regional stability.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in Spain, Burak Akçapar, stressed that Armenia, in violation of the ceasefire, attacked civilians in Azerbaijan on September 27, 2020 and, following operations as part of the legitimate right of self-defence, the territorial integrity of the country was restored. Stressing that Turkey has always supported Azerbaijan, Ambassador Burak Akchapar said that “Azerbaijan’s joy is our joy, its pain is our pain, its freedom is our freedom… We pay tribute to the soldiers of the Azerbaijani army; we thank the veterans.”
