The outgoing year 2022 will be remembered for several important events in Azerbaijan's foreign and domestic policy.
The relevant decree of President Ilham Aliyev declared 2022 the 'Year of Shusha'. Within the framework of the year, a series of events were carried out in the capital Baku and regions, including the liberated territories.
Several personnel reforms, including appointments and dismissals, were also marked 2022.
One of the key events of the year was the ratification of the Shusha Declaration signed in 2021 between Azerbaijan and Turkiye. So, in February of this year, the Azerbaijani parliament first ratified the Shusha Declaration. Two days later, the Turkish parliament - the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye (TBMM), took the same step. On February 11, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a day later, Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev approved this document thereby officially confirming the alliance between the two countries. It should be noted that this document played and continues to play an essential role in future relations, as well as in shaping new realities in the region.
In March, Azerbaijan carried out an anti-terrorist operation in the Farrukh Heights of the Khojaly district.
In August, the Azerbaijani Army conducted an anti-terrorist operation against illegal Armenian armed detachments in the territory of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent was temporarily stationed. As a result of the retaliatory operation codenamed 'Revenge', the Kyrkhgiz height, as well as Saribaba along the Karabakh ridge of the Lesser Caucasus mountain range and a number of other critical commanding heights were taken under control.
As a result of the clashes that took place on September 13-14 after the Armenian provocation, the opposite side lost hundreds of servicemen and much of its equipment. These battles resulted in Armenia's retreat.
Another important event was the meeting between the leaders of Azerbaijan, France, Armenia, and the Council of the European Union in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. It was an important step towards signing the peace treaty between Yerevan and Baku and ensuring peace and stability in the South Caucasus. Many experts rightly viewed the statement adopted in Prague as the next diplomatic success of Azerbaijan. Thus, according to the statement, Azerbaijan and Armenia recognized each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and the UN Charter was taken as the primary document in this regard. It means that Karabakh is once again confirmed as an integral part of Azerbaijan. By recognizing sovereignty, Armenia recognized Azerbaijan's authority over Karabakh.
As a result of Yerevan's destructive policy, the peace agreement was not signed this year. But it can be said for sure that through military and diplomatic efforts, Azerbaijan has ensured its territorial integrity and will be able to sign a peace treaty with Armenia as a victorious state and establish peace and stability in the region.
This year was also marked by the entry of Azerbaijani Army units into the city of Lachin, the villages of Zabukh and Sus (on August 26).
The first tripartite summit of the heads of state of Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Turkmenistan was also one of the memorable political events. The meeting held in Turkmenistan focused on the steps to be taken to further expand cooperation between the three friendly and brotherly countries in all fields, especially trade, energy and transport. After the meeting, documents were signed to strengthen cooperation in the mentioned fields. It resulted in another step taken toward developing both bilateral and multilateral relations and cooperation within the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).
As in previous years, joint military exercises between Azerbaijan and Turkiye continued this year. The two brotherly states conducted about 20 joint military exercises. One of them was the 'Fraternal Fist' exercise held in Azerbaijan in December, which was a serious message to both friends and enemies.
One of the memorable events of the year was Vasif Talibov's resignation, Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Before that, structural reforms were launched in the state bodies in Nakhchivan. Eventually, the representative office of the President of Azerbaijan was established in Nakhchivan. Fuad Najafli was appointed to the position of the authorized representative. The establishment of the institution of the authorized representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is aimed at ensuring effective management, establishing a dialogue between citizens and state bodies in compliance with modern requirements and within the framework of the law, prompt and effective resolution of economic, social, cultural and other issues.
The liberated territories, including Shusha, played the host to international events, with the Baku-Shusha forum of the Organization of Turkic States among the main ones. Within the framework of that event, the diaspora institutions of Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan signed memorandums of understanding in Baku. Those documents marked another contribution to the strengthening of our cooperation within OTS.
In 2022, the President approved the law 'On Media' and the law entered into force this year. Later, the Media Registry was created. Print media and journalists began to register with the Media Registry.
One of the most memorable events of the year is the protest rally held by Azerbaijani eco-activists on the Shusha-Lachin road. Peaceful protests that started on December 12 continue. It's noteworthy that as a result of discussions held with the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent on December 3 and 7, 2022, a team of experts from the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the State Service for Real Estate Affairs under the Ministry of Economy and AzerGold Closed Joint Stock Company was supposed to conduct preliminary monitoring regarding the illegal exploitation of mineral deposits and the resulting ecological and other consequences in the territories of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily stationed. However, due to the inactivity of the peacekeepers, the monitoring did not happen.
The appointment of Turkish general Bahtiyar Ersay as advisor to the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan was one of the important events. This is a significant step towards forming the Azerbaijani army based on the Turkish model.
Moreover, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the approval of the "I State Program on the Great Return to the liberated territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan". Purposeful and large-scale projects implemented according to that decree serve the rapid revival of the economic regions of Karabakh and East Zangazur, the sustainable settlement of the population, and the provision of sustainable economic activity. It also creates a solid foundation for transforming those areas into highly developed regions.
One of the most memorable events of 2022 was the speech by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on his birthday - December 24, in the administrative building of the Western Azerbaijan Community. It has already been announced that work was launched immediately in the Community regarding the Concept of Return proposed by the head of state during the meeting with intellectuals from Western Azerbaijan.