Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's attempt to draw a parallel between the Western Azerbaijan issue and the fictional concept of "Western Armenia" is unacceptable, reads a declaration by the Azerbaijani Parliament's Initiative Group for Return to Western Azerbaijan, Report informs.
The statement notes that the issue of Western Azerbaijan is a matter of human rights aimed at the peaceful, safe, and dignified return of ethnically cleansed Azerbaijanis to Armenia. The term "Western Armenia" is a territorial claim reflected in Armenia's Constitution and other documents and political actions.
"The fact that the Armenian Prime Minister at least verbally questions the fictional concept of 'Western Armenia' and makes statements about 'transitioning from mythical Armenia to real Armenia' are steps that should have been taken long ago. However, this should not come at the expense of the right of ethnically cleansed Western Azerbaijanis to peacefully return to their homes. It is unacceptable to compare our righteous cause, based on human rights, with territorial claims," the statement says.
It is noted that the Western Azerbaijan Community has repeatedly approached the Armenian government with proposals to start a dialogue about the return of Western Azerbaijanis with full compliance with international law norms and principles, including territorial integrity and state sovereignty. However, Armenia ignored these calls and even tried to present the Community's activities as a threat to its territorial integrity, according to the statement.
"Instead of making such absurd comparisons, Prime Minister Pashinyan should respond to the Community's calls for dialogue, ensure the safe and dignified return of Western Azerbaijanis, immediately and unconditionally work to remove territorial claims against Azerbaijan and other neighboring states from Armenia's Constitution and other documents, and stop the dangerous policy of militarization," the statement says.