Baku conference sees dramatic growth in global support for Azerbaijani return rights

The II International Conference on the issue of Azerbaijani expulsion from Armenia, titled "Right to Return: Ensuring Justice for Azerbaijanis Forcibly Expelled from Armenia" kicked off in Baku on December 5.

Organized by the Western Azerbaijan Community, the conference witnessed a significant increase in international participation compared to last year, Caliber.Az correspondent reports.

Aziz Alakbarli, Chairman of the Western Azerbaijan Community, highlighted the conference's growth, with foreign participants nearly doubling from last year. 

"If last year's first conference had 44 representatives from 28 countries, this year, we have 102 participants from 51 countries," Alakbarli said, noting the growing significance of the issue on the global stage.

The conference will feature 25 reports across 5 panels, addressing various aspects of the return of Western Azerbaijanis to their ancestral lands from which they were forcibly expelled. 

Alakbarli underscored the importance of raising awareness about the ethnic cleansing carried out by Armenians over two centuries. He emphasized that Armenia expelled all Azerbaijanis from their historical territories, resulting in the destruction of cultural and religious landmarks. "Armenia has dealt a serious blow to our tangible and intangible cultural heritage," Alakbarli said.

"Armenia expelled all Azerbaijanis from their ancestral lands. Today, there are no Azerbaijanis left in Armenia. By purposefully destroying our cemeteries, and cultural and religious monuments, Armenia has dealt a serious blow to our tangible and intangible cultural heritage," Alakberli emphasized.

The Chairman also pointed out Armenia's refusal to allow UNESCO to assess the state of Azerbaijani cultural heritage within its borders. He condemned Armenia's policy of creating a mono-ethnic society, contrasting it with the region's historical diversity. "Our aim is not to perpetuate the conflict, but to explain the starting point of our struggle for justice, peace, and reconciliation," Alakbarli stressed, emphasizing the community’s commitment to peaceful return and respect for international law.

The community's "Concept of Return," adopted last year, remains a key document in advocating for international support for the rights of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia. "We continue to defend these rights within the framework of the dialogue established with the UN, UNESCO, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and other international organizations," Alakbarli affirmed.

For Alakbarli, ensuring the right of return for Western Azerbaijanis is crucial for achieving justice and sustainable peace in the region. He noted the importance of international support, citing the Armenian government's reluctance to engage in constructive dialogue as a major obstacle. 

"Unfortunately, the Armenian government's unwillingness to engage in constructive dialogue complicates this issue. Nevertheless, we are determined to continue our righteous work based on the principles of peace and dialogue," he added.

Despite this, Alakberli expressed the community's resolve: "We are determined to continue our righteous work based on the principles of peace and dialogue."

The conference's main themes include strengthening the right to return within international law, justice’s role in reconciliation, and the creation of security guarantees for returnees. There will also be discussions on restoring property rights, securing international support for cultural heritage protection, and addressing double standards in human rights.

By Tamilla Hasanova