For many years, for almost 30 years, we have been represented in the international arena as a defeated country, both in sports and in the political arena. The harder it is to admit it, the simpler it is. That is, we must know and tell the truth as it is.

Axar.az reports that the statement came from President Ilham Aliyev while receiving participants of the 7th European Under-23 Wrestling Championship in Bulgaria on March 17.

"Yes, there were reasons for this defeat, the betrayal of the anti-national government, the lack of an army, foreign aid to Armenia - all these factors. These factors led to the defeat. But the truth was that our lands were under occupation and we had to prove that. We will liberate our lands from the occupiers at any cost, and we have done so. "If we can defeat the athletes representing the enemy in sports competitions, we will definitely win on the battlefield. That's what happened," he said.