Hikmet Hajiyev: Azerbaijan has created a new status quo in the South Caucasus

Azerbaijan has created a new status quo in the South Caucasus region.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to Report, this was stated by the Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan - Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev during a visit by representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps to Karabakh University in Khankendi.

Speaking about Khankendi, he noted that this city, whose name means "khan's village," is one of the ancient and significant settlements in the history of Azerbaijan:

"After the creation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region in 1923, the city was called Khankendi for decades. In the late 1980s, Khankendi became a center of separatism (Armenian - ed.), terrorism and terrorist activities, which laid the foundation for a prolonged conflict in Azerbaijan and the wider region."

Hajiyev emphasized that during that period, the city became a site of serious violations of international law, including international humanitarian law.

"There were cases of Azerbaijani civilians and military personnel being held as prisoners and hostages, they were subjected to torture. In some ways, this city played the role of a camp for Azerbaijani prisoners. At a time when the international community after the 'Cold War' was trying to build a new world order based on peace and cooperation, this city, unfortunately, became a symbol of the violation of these principles," he emphasized.

"Today, Azerbaijan, creating a new status quo in the region, is bringing this city back to life," added the Presidential Assistant.