Western Azerbaijan Community denounces Ter-Petrosyan's 1993 speech as evidence of ethnic cleansing

The Western Azerbaijan Community has condemned the speech of former Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, calling it clear evidence of the deeply rooted racism and hostility towards the Azerbaijani people within Armenia's political establishment.

The speech, delivered during a "Yerkrapa" meeting on July 23-24, 1993, and recently shared on YouTube, has reignited concerns about Armenia's policies during the height of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Caliber.Az reports.

According to the statement from the Western Azerbaijan Community, the video footage underscores Armenia's pursuit of ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis, with the approach of "No population, no problem." The comment highlights that the conflict, which Armenia initiated in 1987, aimed to create a mono-ethnic "Great Armenia" by forcibly removing Azerbaijanis from their ancestral lands.

The community also stressed that these policies continue to be pursued by the current Armenian government, which prevents the return of Azerbaijanis who were displaced during the conflict. Despite the passage of more than 30 years since these events, Armenian society and the diaspora either attempt to conceal or endorse Ter-Petrosyan's speech, according to the statement.

The Western Azerbaijan Community called on the international community to condemn Armenia's racist policies and urged the Armenian authorities to begin a dialogue with the community regarding the return of displaced Azerbaijanis.

By Vugar Khalilov