SEOUL, November 07 (AJP) - The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Seoul hosted a Victory Day reception on Thursday to commemorate the country's 2020 Patriotic War. The event, held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, brought together around 100 guests, including foreign diplomats, South Korean government officials, business representatives, scholars, and members of the media.
Azerbaijani Ambassador to South Korea Ramin Hasanov said the day marked the end of long-standing injustice and the restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. He noted that the victory liberated about 20 percent of the country's territory that had been under occupation for decades and reaffirmed its sovereignty in line with international law.
The 2020 conflict, known in Azerbaijan as the Patriotic War, was a six-week confrontation between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region and nearby areas. The fighting ended in November 2020 under a Russia-brokered ceasefire, with Azerbaijan regaining control of much of the territory it lost in the early 1990s.
Since then, the two countries have been engaged in talks aimed at reaching a comprehensive peace treaty and finalizing their border. In August 2025, they announced a framework peace agreement during negotiations in Washington, pledging mutual recognition of territorial integrity and regional cooperation. Although tensions remain, both sides have publicly expressed their intention to pursue peace through diplomacy.
Ambassador Hasanov said 2025 has been declared Azerbaijan's "Year of Constitution and Sovereignty" and described the Washington peace agreement as a turning point for the region. He added that Azerbaijan and Armenia had jointly appealed for the closure of the OSCE Minsk Group, which had long mediated negotiations, saying the decision reflected both countries' readiness to handle talks directly.
He also spoke about reconstruction in the liberated areas under Azerbaijan's Great Return Program, noting that more than 50,000 people have already resettled in newly rebuilt towns and villages. He said the development plan includes green energy infrastructure to create sustainable living conditions for returning residents.
Addressing humanitarian issues, Ambassador Hasanov called for cooperation in providing accurate landmine maps and determining the fate of thousands of Azerbaijanis who went missing during earlier conflicts. He said reconciliation and coexistence would require continued goodwill and mutual confidence-building efforts.
"Achieving lasting peace is not merely an act of goodwill but a duty toward all people in the region," he said, emphasizing Azerbaijan's commitment to stability and security through peaceful means.
Ambassador Hasanov ended his speech on a cultural note, describing music as "a universal language that connects hearts and souls." He introduced a joint performance by Azerbaijani and Korean musicians featuring works by Uzeyir Hajibeyli, the Azerbaijani composer born in Shusha, calling the performance symbolic of peace and national revival.
Guests later viewed a short film reflecting on the meaning of Victory Day, followed by the musical performance. The evening continued in a cordial atmosphere.
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