“The United Nations (UN) Secretariat has officially published the document titled ‘Concept for the Return of the West Azerbaijan Community.’ This document has been endorsed by the UN Security Council, the General Assembly, and the Economic and Social Council. Aziz Alekbarov, Chairman of the Western Azerbaijani Community and a deputy of the Milli Majlis, made this announcement during a meeting with foreign journalists in Baku. The meeting was organized by the Society of Parliamentary Journalists of Azerbaijan and received support from the Agency for State Support of Non-Governmental Organizations in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
According to Aziz Alekbarov, the concept revolves around facilitating the peaceful, safe, and dignified return of Azerbaijani individuals who were displaced from Armenian territory. It also addresses the restoration and protection of their individual and collective rights, including property rights and cultural and historical heritage.
The ‘Concept for the Return of the Western Azerbaijan Community’ has been translated into all official UN languages, including English, French, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, and Spanish. It has been included in the agendas of key UN bodies, particularly those dealing with the prevention of armed conflicts, peace-building, protection of refugees’ rights, elimination of racial discrimination, promotion of human rights, prevention of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity.
Alekbarov emphasized that the dissemination of the Return Concept as an official UN document is a significant milestone towards the peaceful return of Western Azerbaijanis to their homeland. This development also reduces the Armenian government’s ability to misrepresent the West Azerbaijan issue, urging them to initiate negotiations with the Community and commence an international process on this matter.
Quoting the Concept in conjunction with the aforementioned agenda items of influential UN bodies serves as international validation of the necessity to protect fundamental human rights and establish international peace, security, and cooperation through the return of Azerbaijanis to their homes.
Alekbarov expressed his optimism, stating, ‘This success further motivates us to persist in our efforts to return to our homes in a peaceful, safe, and dignified manner.’ This marks the second time that the Western Azerbaijani Community’s document has been recognized as a UN document. Previously, in January, the Community’s appeal to the international community was similarly published.
It is important to note that the ‘Concept for the Return,’ adopted by the Western Azerbaijan Community on January 26, 2023, outlines the overarching framework of goals, principles, and the preparation and implementation of activities to facilitate the return of Azerbaijani individuals who were forcibly displaced from the territory of present-day Armenia. This concept is firmly rooted in international law, relevant domestic legislation, and historical facts, with the ultimate aim of promoting justice and peace.
Speaking about the deportation of Azerbaijanis from Western Azerbaijan, A. Alekbarov highlighted that during the last wave of deportations from 1987 to 1991, approximately 50,000 Azerbaijani families were expelled from nearly 300 settlements. All of these villages were predominantly Azerbaijani inhabited. Infoweb Media
