UN General Assembly
2008

the legal path in declaring their desire for self- determination, were subjected to a brutal war. For years they hovered on the brink of extinction. At that time, Nagorno-Karabakh was only an autonomous region with neither a regular army, arms and ammunition, nor any intention of or ability to occupy Azeri territory. I think it is at the very least unfair to label as “occupants” people who fought for their right to exist; and yet, Azerbaijan has done just that, even from this high rostrum. In my country, even schoolchildren are very familiar with the United Nations. Such children — the future leaders of my country and of the world — may not have a profound understanding of the United Nations Charter, but they know that the Organization was created to ensure peace and security for humankind, to promote friendship among nations, to solve problems jointly, and to protect human rights. The schoolchildren of my country trust the United Nations, since in their eyes it is primarily the building with the “pretzel gun” memorial before it.