Envoy: Azerbaijanis eligible to live in Armenia

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Türkiye Rashad Mammadov has said that Azerbaijanis resettled from present-day Armenia have the right to live in Armenia.

“Just as the Armenians of Karabakh have the right to live in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijanis resettled from present-day Armenia, that is, from West Azerbaijan, have a similar right. In this matter, we must also be provided with guarantees, the balance must be maintained,” Report quotes him as addressing the panel "Azerbaijan after Karabakh victory" held at the Strategic Economic and Social Research Foundation (SETA) in Ankara, Report informs.

The diplomat stressed that more than one million Azerbaijanis were deported from Armenia at different stages of history and their right to life was violated.

“My father is from Yerevan they were also deported. I also have the right to live on the land of my great-grandfathers. Just as Azerbaijan is the guarantor of the Karabakh Armenians, Armenia should be the guarantor of the deported Azerbaijanis, like my fathers and grandfathers. More than 300,000 Azerbaijanis. We also give Georgians the right to live in Azerbaijan. That is, to restore permanent peace in the Caucasus, it is necessary to maintain this balance,” Mamedov noted.

The ambassador noted that Armenia will greatly benefit from the restoration of peace and stability in the Caucasus.

"About 40 per cent of Georgia's state budget is formed at the expense of Azerbaijan's investments. So, it is possible in the case of Armenia as well. Azerbaijan is ready to restore permanent peace in the Caucasus," Mammadov added.

The Armenian state and individuals will answer for war crimes within the framework of international law, the diplomat said.

According to him, all issues will be resolved within the framework of good neighbourly relations so as not to pass on anger and hatred to future generations.

Mammadov stressed that during the period of violation of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, the Armenian side not only caused serious damage to state and private property but destroyed historical and cultural monuments of Azerbaijan, committed murders and terrorism, and for all these bears criminal responsibility.

"Seven districts of Azerbaijan were levelled to the ground, millions of people suffered from the Armenian aggression," Mammadov noted.

He emphasised that against this background, negotiations were also held with international law companies with extensive experience in this direction.

Speaking about the material and moral damage caused to IDPs and Azerbaijanis forcibly deported from Armenia, the ambassador noted that the assessment of this damage is a legal process.

"The process of assessment is underway, besides, a political decision can also be taken. But those who disregarded human values and humanism and committed horrible crimes against humanity will be punished," Mammadov added.