CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VII (1, 2) Contemporary-Eurasia-3new | Page 38

CONTEMPORARY EURASIA
Aliyev (President.az). Speeches are classifi ed in chronological order and
each fi fth speech is used to be analyzed.
First and foremost, it should be stated that the MD of Azerbaijan put
on the table the possibility of a military solution of the Nagorno-Kara-
bakh confl ict (3.28). 65 Interestingly, Ilham Aliyev’s speeches made since
2010 follow this logic. Aliyev frequently emphasizes the importance
and urgency of the modernization and development of the armed forces.
Statements such as “Azerbaijani army should be ready to liberate Azer-
baijani territories from occupants” 66 , “we should have a say when a ripe
moment for resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh confl ict comes” 67 , “we
should be able to restore historical justice at any moment” 68 , “we will
raise our fl ag in Khankendi (Stepanakert) very soon” 69 are the exam-
ples in point. Army modernization is linked not only with the weaponry
import, but also with the production of “the most modernized weapon-
ry and artillery” 70 corresponding to the 35.2 clause of the MD. Aliyev’s
statements most often are the vivid illustration of securitization of the Na-
gorno-Karabakh issue. Although the MD (35.2) indicates the importance
of armed mobilization and their readiness to combat operations, Aliyev
goes beyond calling for national mobilization to “fi ght for homeland
and liberate it”. 71 He uses a “speech act” not only to securitize the Na-
gorno-Karabakh confl ict, but also to manipulate the patriotic feelings of
the society. In his speeches, Aliyev frequently expresses gratefulness to
the Azerbaijani families, who raise soldiers with the high sense of patrio-
tism, courage and the readiness to serve the national interests of Azerbai-
jan. 72 April war in 2016 intensifi ed the use of patriotic statements in Pres-
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
The Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, “The Military Doctrine of the Republic of
Azerbaijan”.
“Speech of Ilham Aliyev on Joint tactical-operational drills of the Armed Forces of the RA,
President.az, 2010, https://ru.president.az/articles/279 (accessed June 5, 2018).
“Speech of Ilham Aliyev in the Cabinet of Ministers assessing the results of 2010,” Presi-
dent.az, 2011, https://ru.president.az/articles/1401(accessed June 5, 2018).
Ibid.
“Speech of Ilham Aliyev devoted to Novruz Bayrami.” President.az, 2017, https://ru.presi-
dent.az/articles/23218 (accessed June 5, 2018).
“Speech of Ilham Aliyev in the Cabinet of Ministers assessing the results of 2010.”
“Speech of Ilham Aliyev devoted to the 95th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the RA,”
President.az, 2013. https://ru.president.az/articles/8574 (accessed June 5, 2018); “Speech
of Ilham Aliyev to Participants of the First Azerbaijan International Defense Industry Ex-
hibition,”President.az, 2014, https://ru.president.az/article254165 (accessed June 5, 2018);
“Speech of Ilham Aliyev in the Cabinet of Ministers assessing the results of 2010,” 2011;
“Speech of Ilham Aliyev devoted to Novruz Bayrami,” 2017; “Speech of Ilham Aliyev in
the fi rst summit of Organization of Islamic Cooperation devoted to science and technology
in Astana,” President.az, 2017. https://ru.president.az/articles/25189 (accessed June 5, 2018);
“Speech of Ilham Aliyev on the 6th congress of Yeni Azerbaijani party,” President.az, 2018.
https://ru.president.az/articles/26998 (accessed June 5, 2018).
“Speech of Ilham Aliyev devoted to the 95th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the RA,”
2013, https://ru.president.az/articles/8574 (accessed June 5, 2018); “Speech of Ilham Aliyev in
the Cabinet of Ministers assessing the socio-economic developments of the fi rst half of 2016,”
President.az, 2016, https://ru.president.az/articles/20650 (accessed June 5, 2018); “Speech of
Ilham Aliyev devoted to Novruz Bayrami,” 2017; “Speech of Ilham Aliyev in the fi rst summit
of Organization of Islamic Cooperation devoted to science and technology in Astana,” 2017.
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