Western Azerbaijan realities at heart of global diplomacy debate in Antalya PHOTO

The ongoing challenges and historical grievances of Western Azerbaijan were brought to the forefront during a high-level roundtable titled “Parliamentary Diplomacy in Global Governance” held on the margins of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2025 (ADF2025).

The session, gathered prominent parliamentarians and international officials to discuss the evolving role of legislative diplomacy in resolving complex global issues, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Moderated by Fuat Oktay, Chairman of the Turkish Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee, the discussion featured insightful contributions from Aziz Alakbarli, Chairman of the Western Azerbaijan Community (WAC); Ramil Hasan, Deputy Chairman of the WAC; Ahliman Amiraslanov, Chairman of the Healthcare Committee of the Milli Majlis and the Council of Elders of the WAC; Asaf Hajiyev, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation; and Rolando Gonzalez Patricio, Chairman of the Latin American and Caribbean Parliamentary Assembly.

In his opening remarks, Fuat Oktay highlighted the gravity of today’s global crises, stating that international institutions—including the United Nations—are increasingly ineffective in addressing unilateral actions and mounting humanitarian emergencies. “The world lacks a unified response to the developments of recent days,” he said, underlining the need for stronger and more agile parliamentary diplomacy to fill this vacuum.

Asaf Hajiyev drew attention to the unprecedented scale of global displacement, noting that over 110 million people are currently displaced worldwide, with every 70th person now a refugee. Reflecting on Azerbaijan’s own history of displacement, he reminded the audience that one in every ten Azerbaijanis was expelled from their homeland amid Armenia’s territorial claims in the early 1990s. “Although the war has ended, many of these people still cannot return to their lands due to widespread destruction,” he said. He praised Azerbaijan’s commitment to rebuilding its liberated territories, noting that the state allocates 4–5 billion manats annually to restoration efforts in Karabakh—a substantial burden for a single nation.

MP Ramil Hasan expanded on the role of parliamentary diplomacy in shaping post-conflict realities. “If we want to fully utilise the potential of parliamentary diplomacy, we, as MPs, must actively contribute to defining the future of the Azerbaijan-Armenia issue,” he stated.

He emphasized that the anticipated peace treaty presents a critical opportunity to rebuild trust, promote sustainable peace, and ensure the dignified return of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis to their ancestral lands.

Hasan recalled that nearly 300,000 Azerbaijanis were forcibly displaced from Armenia between 1987 and 1991. “Their right to return must be recognized as a fundamental component of the peace process,” he stressed, adding that this should be pursued within the framework of international human rights law and the protection of national minorities.

He also underscored the principled stance of the West Azerbaijan Community, which continues to advocate for the rights of displaced Azerbaijanis in full compliance with international law and with respect for Armenia’s territorial integrity and the norms enshrined in the UN Charter.

The roundtable underscored the increasing importance of parliamentary diplomacy in addressing issues of displacement, historical justice, and post-conflict reconciliation, with Western Azerbaijan presented as a critical case study for the international community.

By Vafa Guliyeva