WAC calls for peaceful, dignified return of Azerbaijanis to ancestral lands

The Western Azerbaijan Community (WAC) has reaffirmed that the peaceful, safe, and dignified return of Azerbaijanis to their historical lands remains a central goal under international law.

Aziz Alakbarli, Chairman of the WAC, made the remarks at the international scientific conference “The Right of Return in the Context of International Peace and Cooperation,” held as part of the Year of Constitution and Sovereignty initiatives.

Alakbarli stressed that cooperation with international organisations continues to be a key focus. He highlighted that the WAC fully respects all norms and principles of international law and has consistently informed the global community about the extent of crimes committed by Armenia against Azerbaijanis.

“Armenia not only refuses to take responsibility for its crimes but also denies the right of Azerbaijanis, forcibly expelled from their ancestral lands, to return,” Alakbarli said. “Material and cultural heritage belonging to Azerbaijan has been destroyed. We have sent appeals to all relevant international institutions, including UNESCO, yet Armenia has failed to respond positively.”

The chairman also addressed recent misinformation propagated by Armenian media and political figures following the Washington meeting on August 8, 2025. According to Alakbarli, false claims suggested that Azerbaijan had abandoned efforts to facilitate the return of its citizens to Western Azerbaijan and that the WAC would cease its activities.

“Contrary to these claims, the speech of President Ilham Aliyev at the National Academy of Sciences confirmed that the return of Azerbaijanis to Western Azerbaijan remains a priority for the state. Armenia’s attempts to distort the facts will not succeed,” Alakbarli emphasised.

By Tamilla Hasanova