Community slams Armenian PM’s unfounded views on Western Azerbaijan

The Western Azerbaijan Community has issued a statement slamming the way how Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed inaccurate, unfounded, and harmful views on regional processes and the issue of Western Azerbaijan in an article published by Armenpress on February 10.

"First and foremost, we want to emphasize that we support political processes aimed at establishing peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia and believe that achieving peace and ensuring the return of Western Azerbaijanis to their homes are complementary goals,” the statement reads, Caliber.Az reports.

The community expressed deep concern over Armenia’s extensive armament: “However, we are seriously concerned about the actions of the Armenian government. Yerevan’s large-scale armament program, along with its state-level policy of racism and denial of Western Azerbaijanis’ right to return, exacerbates the situation in the region.

“Contrary to the prime minister’s claims, there is no military threat to Armenia. Given the country’s past as an aggressor, its inability to responsibly handle military force, its refusal to acknowledge violations against Azerbaijan, and the ongoing large-scale armament alongside revanchist sentiments in Armenian political circles and society, it is evident that Armenia harbours intentions of attacking Azerbaijan,” the statement reads.

The community also rebuked Pashinyan’s approach to the Western Azerbaijan issue: “Pashinyan portrays the issue of Western Azerbaijan as a military threat, which is entirely unacceptable. His claims that the community’s key documents allegedly lay claim to 60 per cent of Armenia’s territory are baseless.”

“We recall that Azerbaijanis historically lived in all regions of Armenia, including the capital Yerevan, and once constituted an ethnic superiority there. Once again, we stress that our community advocates for the peaceful, dignified, and safe return of displaced Azerbaijanis—within the framework of international law and with full respect for Armenia’s territorial integrity," the statement reads.

By Khagan Isayev