On July 13, a meeting of the Security Council was held under the chairmanship of President Ilham Aliyev.

The head of state spoke at the meeting.

Speech by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev

- Yesterday afternoon, Armenia made another provocation on the Tovuz direction of the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border. It is not the first time that Armenia has committed military provocations on the state border. Over the past few months, these military provocations have resulted in the deaths of our military personnel as well as civilians. Yesterday afternoon, as a result of their next provocation, several of our servicemen were killed. Suddenly, our military post came under artillery fire, and as a result of this dirty deed, our servicemen were killed and injured. May Allah rest the souls of our martyrs, I wish healing to our wounded soldiers.

I can say that the next provocation of Armenia was resolutely suppressed, an adequate response was given. We have avenged our military personnel. All attempts by the Armenian side failed, Azerbaijan defended its state border, and the Armenian soldiers did not manage to penetrate the Azerbaijani soil by a centimeter.

Today the tense situation at the border continues. Yesterday I contacted all relevant structures, commanders. Early this morning I was provided with operational information; the situation on the border has not stabilized. The military-political leadership of Armenia bears full responsibility, since such incidents occur precisely because of the two-faced and hypocritical activities of the Armenian leadership. On the one hand, it appeals to the international community and asks for help to strengthen the ceasefire regime on the line of contact between the troops of Armenia and Azerbaijan, on the other, by committing military provocations, it seeks to attack the territory of Azerbaijan, seize our positions, bombard the civilian population and our villages. This dirty and insidious policy is pushing Armenia towards the abyss.

All responsibility falls on the leadership of Armenia. Azerbaijan will continue to defend its territorial integrity, its borders. This was once again confirmed by the crushing blows inflicted on the enemy yesterday afternoon and tonight. We avenged our dead servicemen; their blood did not and will not remain on the ground.

These dirty actions are a manifestation of their aggressive policy. It is impossible to explain this policy by logic, because it is extremely contradictory and is a source of great danger for Armenia. Because, as I have said many times, I want to say it again, Azerbaijan will never accept that its lands remain under occupation, will not reconcile with occupation and will do everything possible to restore its territorial integrity.

Appropriate appeals have been sent to international organizations, and as soon as the operational situation permits, we will invite military representatives of foreign countries to this territory so that they can see the situation with their own eyes. So that they can see who committed this military provocation. We saw what happened as a result of this military provocation and who is responsible for aggravating the situation. Our way is right; Azerbaijan will not step back from its principled position.

As you know, the internal situation in Armenia has already reached a crisis point. Internal strife has become widespread. At the same time, they are very worried and envy them by the international successes our country has recently achieved. In particular, our successful activities in the framework of international organizations, statements, resolutions recently adopted by all leading international organizations regarding the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, support for the territorial integrity of our country, of course, dealt a very serious blow to Armenia's positions related to conflict. At the same time, the specific facts we regularly cite from the high rostrum, convincing justifications related to both the history of the conflict and the history of the region, of course, completely nullify their propaganda.

The whole world already knows that Nagorno-Karabakh is the primordial historical Azerbaijani land; this is confirmed by many documents that we are currently bringing to the wide international community. At the same time, the whole world recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh as an integral part of Azerbaijan. This is also confirmed by a fairly large number of international documents and statements. Including the notorious “elections” held recently in the so-called “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic” not only were not recognized by any country, but all leading international organizations, neighboring countries and countries dealing with this issue condemned these elections. Thus, support was once again expressed for the territorial integrity of our country, once again it was openly indicated that Nagorno-Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan.

Therefore, the chaos prevailing in Armenia at the present time and the approach of the situation to the crisis level prompted them to these dirty acts. On the other hand, it is no secret that for a long time Armenia, in its actions related to the conflict, citing, in particular, the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border, has been trying to form the opinion that Azerbaijan is allegedly making attacks on the territory of Armenia. It's a lie. All attacks are committed by Armenia; there are many documents, video and photo documents confirming this. Azerbaijan simply responds adequately to all provocations. If shelling of Azerbaijani positions, Azerbaijani villages are carried out from the territory of Armenia, then, naturally, we will and are giving an adequate answer. Therefore, Armenia, using every opportunity, including inventing false data, is doing everything possible to draw special attention to the state border. Yesterday’s military provocation is another manifestation of this dirty policy.

I believe that another reason for this provocation is that recently Azerbaijan has achieved tremendous success in the international arena. Summits of international organizations have been held on our initiative.

On our initiative, a special session of the UN General Assembly took place. This proposal, this initiative was supported by more than 130 countries, Armenia opposed it and again disgraced itself, once again isolated itself from the world. With her incomprehensible position on the fight against COVID, which is today at the first place on the world’s agenda, she has once again drawn the attention of the whole world to her dirty politics. How is it possible that today, when Azerbaijan demands the unification of the entire world in this struggle, Armenia opposes.

Therefore, we can say that Armenia is losing all support in the international arena. The internal situation is quite tense. Everyone already understands that the promised "prosperity" is a dream, a lie. Of course, the announcement of the Armenian authorities in connection with yesterday's incident is another sign of a lie. In this message they are trying to shift the responsibility on Azerbaijan, while there is no reason for this, and I want to say again - all independent experts can confirm this - without any reason, an artillery strike was inflicted on our military post. It was as a result of this that our servicemen died. They only have enough strength to fire at civilians or unexpectedly open fire on our military post. They did this by once again demonstrating their dirty and devious nature.

I want to say again: yesterday and this night the enemy was given an adequate answer. We have avenged and we will avenge our military personnel. The blood of our servicemen, martyrs did not and will not remain on the ground. Using all the possibilities, we will defend ourselves and once again point the enemy in his place.

Then the meeting of the Security Council continued behind closed doors.