Azerbaijani Parliament issues strong rebuttal to Armenian PM's comments on "Western Armenia"

In a recent statement, the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan addressed Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's remarks concerning the controversial term "Western Armenia."

The parliamentary body clarified its position on the implications of Pashinyan's comments and the ongoing issue of Western Azerbaijan, Caliber.Az reports.

"Initiative Group on Return to Western Azerbaijan" formed within the Milli Majlis emphasized that Pashinyan's attempt to equate the issue of Western Azerbaijan with the notion of "Western Armenia" is unacceptable. The group highlighted that "the question of Western Azerbaijan is related to the protection of human rights, with the right to peaceful, safe, and dignified return to Armenia for Azerbaijanis who have faced ethnic cleansing." In contrast, it stated that "the term 'Western Armenia' is a reflection of Armenia's territorial claims, as outlined in its constitution and other documents."

The group further expressed that "the community of Western Azerbaijan has repeatedly appealed to the Armenian government with a proposal to initiate dialogue on the return of Western Azerbaijanis, with full compliance with the norms and principles of international law, including territorial integrity and sovereignty of states." However, it noted that "the Armenian side has ignored these appeals and deliberately presents the community's activities as a threat to its territorial integrity."

The group urged that "instead of conducting such erroneous parallels, Prime Minister Pashinyan should respond to the community's calls for dialogue, ensure the safe and dignified return of Western Azerbaijanis, begin work on the immediate and unconditional rejection of territorial claims against Azerbaijan and other neighbouring states in Armenia's constitution and other documents, and end the dangerous policy of militarization."

By Tamilla Hasanova