"The Baku Initiative Group declares that the policy implemented against Azerbaijanis who historically lived in the territory of Armenia was not only ethnic discrimination, but also an integral part of a systematically conducted colonialist mindset, a policy of racial discrimination and aimed at mono-ethnicization."
Modern.az reports that this was stated in the statement of the Baku Initiative Group.
It was noted that the only "guilt" of Azerbaijanis was their national identity.
"They were subjected to mass massacres, ethnic cleansing, gross violation of their political, economic, social and cultural rights in 1905-1906, 1918 and subsequent stages of the XX century.
The gross violations of law committed against Azerbaijanis were a repetition of the atrocities committed by colonial powers against peoples historically under colonial rule.
The colonial-minded policy purposefully implemented by the Armenian SSR served to gradually displace Azerbaijanis from their historical living spaces, erase their cultural and religious heritage, and ultimately transform Armenia into a mono-ethnic republic.
In this regard, the mass deportation operations of Azerbaijanis covered the years 1948-1953, and more than 150,000 Azerbaijanis were displaced from their homes. These acts created deep tragedies in human destinies, separated thousands of families from their native lands, and difficult resettlement conditions severely affected people's lives, health, and social situation.
At the same time, the historical and cultural heritage belonging to Azerbaijanis was purposefully erased, toponyms of Azerbaijani origin were massively changed, settlements, cemeteries, religious and cultural monuments were destroyed or alienated. This policy was not limited to physically removing people from their homes, but also aimed at erasing their historical memory and cultural traces.
From the end of 1987, the Armenian authorities again brought up territorial claims against Azerbaijan, after which more than 250,000 Azerbaijanis still living in Armenia were forcibly expelled from their native lands. Armed attacks were organized on villages inhabited by Azerbaijanis, people were forced to leave their homes, and thus the policy of ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis in the territory of Armenia was completed.
This process was not only directed against Azerbaijanis. As a result of Armenia's policy of transforming into a mono-ethnic state, other ethnic and religious minorities were also oppressed, and their numbers sharply decreased. This fact shows that Armenia has purposefully pursued this policy for many years. Armenia did not stop there, occupying 20% of Azerbaijan's sovereign territories.
Today, at a time when the peace agenda is advancing between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the continued existence of hate rhetoric, revanchist calls and racist approaches against Azerbaijanis and Turks in Armenian society causes serious concern. Lasting peace can only be possible on the basis of recognition of historical injustices, respect for human rights, rejection of discriminatory policies and restoration of the rights of forcibly displaced people.
The Baku Initiative Group calls on the international community, human rights institutions, relevant UN mechanisms and other international organizations to objectively assess the colonial-minded, as well as ethnic discrimination and intolerance policy implemented by the Armenian state against Azerbaijanis."
