Azerbaijani Press: Hikmet Hajiyev’s phone number and what is happening in Arm

There is a single mass in Armenia:

They dig through the archives, pull out every old photograph they can find, share them and lament.

The picture that emerges is roughly this: it is as if it were 2026 in Azerbaijan and 1992 in Armenia.

It is like watching footage from that very period from our own history, with the sound removed; you could hardly tell that it belongs to Armenia.

One group in Armenia is going through the same social, political, social and physical traumas that we experienced in the 1990s. Or perhaps there are two groups in Armenia, one led by Pashinyan and the other by Andranik and Nzhdeh. Yet the latter have long been dead.

It is understandable that this group may be living through its losses and pain in a kind of masochistic way, deriving a sense of satisfaction from the consequences of its own actions, and that perhaps what keeps it going is precisely this sense of revenge. But just as there is no place for this poisoned mindset among us, it has no place in Armenia either. Because, from today’s perspective, thanks to the joint efforts of the diplomatic leaders of both peoples, those who were defeated continue to be defeated once again.

However, the Armenian mindset accepts facts — in other words, it is drawn to strength and tends to betray soft protection.

Albanian heritage in Karabakh is a specific page of Azerbaijan’s history. What could be more natural than for us to embrace it? The visit of diplomats led by Hikmet Hajiyev to Karabakh and their acquaintance with its Albanian heritage caused what was perhaps the biggest shock among Armenians since the war. As the imperial myth built on falsehoods began to collapse, an attempt was made to create a major wave of reaction.

Then there was a pause in meetings of the initiative groups, followed, ultimately, by the Armenian intelligence chief’s overnight visit to Baku.

The fact that the only image we have from which to comment on the visit is a tense and desperate-looking photograph may perhaps be enough for us to draw a conclusion based on its emotional appearance.

The world is changing. That world no longer exists; it has disappeared from the framework of global law. Azerbaijan has established strong regional ties, while Armenia is not prepared for such a global upheaval.

The country is trying to open its arms and lean on Azerbaijan and Türkiye as soon as possible in order to preserve its name on the map in the coming period.

This is not a claim; it is the extremely harsh reality of our present day. All ethical principles and rules have been violated. If you can wake up, you will survive; otherwise, being reduced to dust in the mill of history by a sudden move from great powers is not particularly difficult. This is the agenda Armenia is living with. Most importantly, Armenia does not have a Türkiye of its own in that geography: it has Iran eyeing its territory, Russia striking it over the head, and the West telling it from afar, “Don’t be afraid.”

And now, against such an Azerbaijan, incomprehensible voices are being heard in Armenia.

Is this possible?

In Armenia, there is also a figure like Alen Simonyan who knows Hikmet Hajiyev’s personal phone number and remains in regular contact with him. Who could better understand the Armenian people’s dignity and interpret Azerbaijan’s power than him?

Pragmatic Armenians such as Simonyan are confronting the majority of media figures who still carry revanchist sentiments. One of his responsibilities is precisely to manage this group and consider what response Armenia will give to Azerbaijan tomorrow.

In a changing world, if there is anything truly great in tiny, very tiny Armenia, it is the Armenian people themselves. Their ideas are killing them. But pragmatism keeps them alive.

For the sake of living and planting trees of peace rather than revenge, Hajiyev’s phone is still open — for now.

Aziz Alibeyli, International Relations Researcher

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