Dr. Akkan Suver spoke at an international meeting held in Baku in honor of the 100th birthday of Haydar Aliyev. 

The meeting was organized by the Azerbaijan Air Center Think Tank, and was attended by Mahmut Saklı, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Marmara Group Foundation, and Ambassador Hasan Ulusoy from our Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dr. Akkan Suver's speech text is below;

Honorable President of the International Analysis Center,

Esteemed Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I respectfully commemorate Azerbaijan's Great Son, Heydar Aliyev, whose centennial birth anniversary we are celebrating this year.

This year, our country Türkiye has also celebrated its centenary anniversary. On this occasion, I would like to celebrate this great national holiday here as well.

The title of my speech is "Dealing with the Azerbaijan-Armenia Conflict." Although I have spent a significant portion of my life advocating for peace and dialogue, I am aware of the difficulty and importance of this issue.

Therefore, I would like to begin by sharing a historical event with you. Izmir on September 9th, 1922. The Turkish Army has entered Izmir, which is under Greek occupation. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk also arrives in Izmir.

When Great Atatürk arrived in Izmir, a mansion was prepared for his stay. This mansion was the one where the Greek King, who came to Izmir during the occupation, had stayed.

When Great Atatürk arrived at the mansion, he saw a Greek flag on the ground. A huge Greek flag was spread on the marble stairs.

He asked,

"What is this?"

Those who were with him explained, "When the Greek King entered this mansion, he stepped on the Turkish flag on these stairs, my Pasha."

Great Atatürk replied, "He made a mistake. I cannot repeat this mistake. The flag is the honor of a nation, no matter whose it is, it should not be spread on the ground and stepped on. Remove it."

101 years after this exceptional incident, we witnessed an exceptional event three weeks ago during the European Weightlifting Championship held in Armenia, where the carrier of Azerbaijan's flag had it taken from his hand and burned.

On the one hand, there is a mentality that values the flag as a nation's honor, and on the other hand, a mindset that burns it.

The mentality that shows respect for that flag will make the Treaty of Lausanne, which has been alive for a hundred years and will continue to live, after one year later.

Let's pause here.

Today, we will discuss ways to sit at the table with a mindset that burns flags.

First, let's make an observation.

There is a need for a peace table.

The counterparts of this table are Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Armenia must come to the table independently from Russia, France, the European Union, and especially Iran.

On one hand, it should be noted that the current geopolitical situation is in favor of Azerbaijan. While Russia and Iran, the two enemies of the West, act as if they are Armenia's allies, France's actions disrupt the constructive efforts of the EU. This means that the current status quo is maintained.

On the other hand, the United States advocates for giving cultural or different status to the Karabakh Armenians. This leads the US to a biased point of supporting Armenia, away from being a mediator. Because the Washington administration is eager to become an effective power in the region by giving a new status to Karabakh.

In the point we are in, the approach of seeking alliances against Azerbaijan is undermining the peace process. This makes it difficult for the parties to reach a compromise. This new situation also carries the risk of renewed military conflict. Therefore, it would not be surprising for the Azerbaijani Army to consider the option of military operations if Armenia fails to take the expected steps in the peace talks. In fact, this is also in Azerbaijan's interest because the Baku government has a serious will to liberate the other occupied territories.

Armenia's interest should be to seek agreement with Azerbaijan instead of seeking alliances against it and not to miss the opportunity to approach Türkiye.

When Armenia sits at the table with its own thoughts, conditions, and capabilities, it will see that the dialogue will be established will eliminate most of the problems. We should also know that no solution can be achieved by military means.

This issue was actually closed in Lisbon in 1996. At the OSCE meeting held in Lisbon with the convincing power of the late President Haydar Aliyev, participant countries, except Armenia, unanimously accepted that Karabakh is Azerbaijani territory. If the historical decision taken at the table that day had been followed, Armenia would be in a different place today.

Thirty years later, if the decision taken with a pen at the table is implemented with a gun, Armenia is responsible for it.

Western countries seem to behave in favor of peace, but for some reason, they cannot resist being on Armenia's side when making decisions.

But this path is wrong and useless.

Therefore, both Armenia and its supporters must accept the existing reality that emerged after the Karabakh War. In other words, the implementation of the November 10th agreement will pave the way for peace. Now is the time for Armenia to return to its internationally recognized borders and for Azerbaijan to regain its occupied territories, and for the two countries to restart diplomatic efforts to reach a peace agreement. When this path is taken, not only peace will come, but Armenia will also be able to breathe. The way will also be opened for the bilateral and regional economic cooperation that Armenia particularly needs.

Let's not forget that the Zangezur Corridor is also an important topic in the peace process. It would be incomplete to view the Zangezur Corridor only as an economic or transportation project. This is a strategic project that is Azerbaijan's natural right. As it will be remembered, the November 10th statement clearly stated the need for a transportation connection between Azerbaijan's western regions and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, and for Armenia to provide it.

It seems that the strongest and most effective way for both parties to achieve lasting peace is through a strong and continuous dialogue diplomacy.

Of course, another task for Armenia is to abandon provocations and take sincere steps towards cooperation and peace.

For example, what benefit does Iran's hasty opening of a consulate in the city of Kapan have for the peace process?

What does provocative policies towards Türkiye provide for Armenia?

The Nemesis Monument was opened in Armenia three days ago. Insisting on Nemesis, it shows that a distorted interpretation of history that cannot be approved is still in the minds and it will not contribute to the normalization process for Armenia.

As of the previous day, Türkiye closed its airspace to Armenian planes. Has this been beneficial for Armenia?

To whom are the border violations, conflicts and loss of life committed by Armenia under the guidance of its supporters and diaspora?

While we talk about peace here, how can one explain Armenia's continued military shipments to Karabakh, which is contrary to the agreement signed by Azerbaijan, Armenian, and Russian leaders that requires the withdrawal of armed Armenian units from the region?

Nevertheless, I believe that there are rational people in Armenia.

Because the conjuncture, the positions announced and the statements made show that almost all actors in the international community support this path.

The Armenian side should give up hindering the negotiation process and take responsibility and decide to sign a peace agreement, in other words, to solve the problems recorded in Prague and approved in Sochi.

I would like to end my words by changing two proverbs according to myself. “Let's not forget that war is a sacrifice if you sacrifice yourself and not your neighbor's son.”

Another saying is “In wise nations, sons bury their fathers, and in flag-burning nations, fathers bury their sons.”

I wish you all peaceful days.