CONTEMPORARY EURASIA IX ( 2 )
During this period Aliyev ’ s rhetoric changed since he had become sure that Azerbaijan was already strong enough and had fortified its army and economy . 73 From then onward Aliyev started constantly claiming that diplomatic efforts are not enough , and Azerbaijan is already strong enough to resolve it by any means . 74 He started constantly comparing the economic development and demographic trends in both Azerbaijan and Armenia , arguing that the former is a country of opportunities , which can “ defend its frontline .” 75 It is also quite well-known that Aliyev even tried to compare the military expenditures of both countries boasting that Armenia cannot be compared with Azerbaijan as the latter ’ s military spending are 50 % more than “ the total state budget of Armenia ” 76 , thus putting forward the thesis that “ strong Azerbaijan can speak any language with powerless Armenia ” 77 and trying to convince its public that Azerbaijan continues isolating Armenia from all regional projects , which is their policy towards the peace process . 7879 At this point , it had become quite noticeable that Aliyev believed that his policy of managing the conflict was successful , and he had gained “ the upper hand .”
However , the years 2016-2018 demonstrated several important challenges to Aliyev ’ s policy . This phase can be qualified as a transition stage in Azerbaijan ’ s conflict management strategies . It can be noted that Aliyev faced challenges in his policy and had to demonstrate that his decade-long claims about the readiness of their “ strong ” army and their advanced military capabilities were the ultimate reality . Thus , the April
88 – 2019 % 20in % 20constant % 20 % 282018 % 29 % 20USD . pdf ( accessed September 20 , 2020 ).
73
Azerbaijani President calls ' to attack Armenia in all directions ', Panarmenian . net , June 22 , 2007 , http :// www . panarmenian . net / eng / world / news / 22662 /. 74 Armenia / Azerbaijan : Deadly Fighting Erupts In Nagorno-Karabakh , RFE / RL , March 4 ,
2008 , https :// www . rferl . org / a / 1079580 . html . 75 Azerbaijani President Criticizes Armenia On Karabakh Talks , RFE / RL , November 19 ,
2009 , https :// www . rferl . org / a / Azerbaijani _ President _ Criticizes _ Armenia _ On _ Karabakh _ Talks / 1882645 . html . 76 Our Military Spending is 50 % More than Armenia`s Total Budget , Azerbaijani
President , Azertag , June 26 , 2011 , https :// azertag . az / en / xeber / Our _ military _ spending _ is _ 50 _ more _ than _ Armenias _ total _ bu dget _ Azerbaijani _ President-608267 . 77 Ilham Aliyev ’ s Speech on the Anniversary of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan , Azertag ,
June 27 , 2013 , https :// www . news . az / articles / official / 80740 . 78 Speech by Ilham Aliyev at the official reception dedicated to the 28th May – Republic
Day , Official website of the president of Azerbaijan , May 27 , 2011 . https :// nl . hideproxy . me / go . php ? u = psejU1QtaA68DOqMcW % 2BmAHS28S8SlR % 2BDRJ 1F7ZrjHg0d & b = 5 . 79 “ We Will Continue to Isolate Armenia from International and Regional Projects ” -Ilham
Aliyev , News . az , September 11 , 2012 , https :// news . az / articles / official / 67984 . 71