**Azerbaijan’s President Calls Armenia a “Fascist State”**
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has made some strong statements about his country’s neighbor, Armenia. In an interview with local TV channels, he called Armenia a “fascist state”. He also said that Azerbaijan might have no other choice but to “destroy” this ideology.
**Long History of Conflict**
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been enemies for over 30 years. They’ve had many fights over territory and ethnicity since they gained independence. The latest conflict was in September 2023, when Azerbaijan’s forces took control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Most of the Armenian population had to leave.
**Talks and Threats**
While talks are ongoing between Yerevan and Baku to normalize relations and settle border disputes, Armenian authorities have accused Azerbaijan of planning further hostilities. In response, Aliyev has made thinly veiled threats against Armenia. He also called on France and other countries to stop providing arms to Armenia.
**Armenia’s Response**
The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, said in an interview that if Azerbaijan doesn’t have intentions to attack Armenia, then the likelihood of escalation is zero. However, Aliyev’s statements have heightened tensions between the two countries.
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