The day that changed everything

There are days in the life of a person and a country that remain forever etched in their memory and hold special significance. For Azerbaijan, September 27 is one such day.

September 27, 2020. A typical, calm Sunday morning. However, the Sunday silence is shattered by artillery shells, machine gunfire, and other heavy weapons. Armenia has decided to implement the grandiose declarations about new territories it has made over the past two years. But Azerbaijan was already a different country, not the one torn apart by internal conflicts in the early 1990s, lacking a combat-ready army and a ruined economy. By 2020, Azerbaijan had already transformed itself into a country firmly on its feet, enjoying high international status, a strong economy, and, most importantly, a well-trained and prepared army, capable not only of repelling new enemy attacks but also of recapturing what the treacherous enemy seized almost 30 years ago.

Therefore, on September 27, 2020, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev immediately ordered the army to launch a counterattack. Thus began the glorious 44-day Journey to the Great Victory.

September 27 also became a day of unity for Azerbaijani citizens, who lined up in front of military recruitment offices to enlist as volunteers in the army. Every day, everyone eagerly awaited news from the front, new updates on newly liberated settlements.

This was still a period of quarantine due to COVID-19, but this did not stop residents, especially in the cities, from chatting with each other on balconies and shouting out the names of settlements liberated by the glorious Azerbaijani army.

These days are unforgettable. Just as it is impossible to forget those who cleansed the Azerbaijani soil of the Armenian occupiers. I am sure that each of us remembers the faces of these ordinary men who gave their lives to eradicate Armenian separatism in Azerbaijan. It is also impossible to forget the civilians who perished in Ganja, Tartar, and Barda as a result of the Armenians' treacherous attacks. Joy and sorrow often go hand in hand.

On December 2, 2020, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree marking September 27 as Remembrance Day. This day expresses deep respect for the memory of all the martyrs who heroically fought and sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

September 27, 2020, can also be considered a unique starting point on the path to peace.

Over the past five years, Azerbaijan has done much to bring this long-awaited peace closer. A long, thorny path, until peace became possible thanks to Azerbaijan's victory in the Patriotic War.

On September 25, 2025, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev spoke from the rostrum of the UN General Assembly about the long road to victory and peace, about a new era in Azerbaijan's history, about how the occupation was ended during the Patriotic War, and how peace was secured through political means.

"Right after our victorious war, Azerbaijan declared its readiness to open a new page in relations with Armenia based on mutual recognition of territorial integrity and sovereignty. We proposed five basic principles rooted in international law. We tabled the proposal for a Peace Treaty. Then we initiated a negotiation process on its draft text, which lasted from October 2022 to summer 2025. Despite several attempts to derail the process, the negotiations produced positive results, as they were conducted on a strict bilateral basis, free from any kind of external interference," the head of state said.

Later, at a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Ilham Aliyev emphasized the historic significance of the results achieved in normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and advancing the peace agenda. Noting that relations between the two countries and the situation in the region have completely changed, Ilham Aliyev said that there has been no peace in the region since Azerbaijan and Armenia gained independence. However, peace currently reigns in the region. Emphasizing that both countries are learning to live in peace, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that this is of great historic significance for both Azerbaijan and Armenia.

There is essentially one step left to complete the peace process. Yes, much remains to be done to finally restore Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, where life is being revived today, the joyful laughter of children echoes, Azerbaijani music can be heard, and smiles are visible on faces. Everything we have dreamed of for many, many years. But we will always remember the day it all began. The day that changed everything...