Declaration published in Türkiye highlights right to return as pillar of justice for Western Azerbaijan

The final declaration of the international conference "Return to Western Azerbaijan as an Essential Condition for the Supremacy of Human Rights" has been officially published in Ankara, Türkiye, emphasising the fundamental right to return, enshrined in international law, as a key principle for promoting peace and coexistence between nations.

The event was organised by the Western Azerbaijan Community and the “Azerbaijan-Türkiye House” Public Union, in partnership with the Baku International Multiculturalism Centre, ADA University, and the Azerbaijani Centre for the Analysis of International Relations, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The statement highlights the historical injustices faced by Azerbaijanis who once lived in Western Azerbaijan, the region now known as Armenia. Between 1918 and 1991, Azerbaijanis suffered systematic ethnic cleansing and were forcibly expelled from their homeland in several waves — specifically in 1918-1921, 1948-1953, and 1987-1991. As a result of these displacements, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis became refugees, and their rich cultural heritage, including mosques, cemeteries, and historical monuments, was destroyed.

The declaration emphasises that ensuring the right to return for these displaced Azerbaijanis is not merely a human rights issue but is crucial for restoring justice, achieving regional stability, and fostering coexistence. The document states that the safe and dignified return of the Western Azerbaijanis to their ancestral lands is not only a step toward historical justice but also vital for long-term peace and reconciliation in the South Caucasus. 

The conference participants called on the international community, including the United Nations, UNESCO, ICESCO, and other global organisations, to take concrete actions to facilitate the return of displaced Azerbaijanis, restore their rights, and protect their cultural heritage. The declaration further urges Armenia to engage in a constructive dialogue with the Western Azerbaijan Community, allow UNESCO and other relevant monitoring bodies to protect and restore the cultural sites, and ensure the protection of the displaced individuals' property rights.

By Naila Huseynova