Some time ago, the visit of Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev to Armenia caused wide discussions both in Azerbaijan and in the regional media. The fact that he was originally from Western Azerbaijan and knew the Armenian language was one of the main facts that attracted attention.
In this sense, it is also interesting whether there are deputies in the Milli Majlis who know the Armenian language. Our deputies born in Western Azerbaijan learned the Armenian language in their time.
Aziz Alakbarli, chairman of the Western Azerbaijan Community, stated that they were in frequent contact with Armenians in their daily lives, so they had to learn and use the Armenian language:
"As the policy of ethnic cleansing was carried out in the territory of Western Azerbaijan during the last 200 years, the Azerbaijani population was displaced and removed from their historical places. Armenians who came or were brought from foreign countries were settled in the houses and villages of our compatriots. Thus, the villages were either completely Armenianized or turned into mixed villages inhabited by Azerbaijanis and Armenians. Especially Azerbaijanis living in such mixed villages inevitably had to learn and use the Armenian language, either at school, at work, or in their daily lives, by frequently contacting Armenians."
The deputy stated that Russian was not a common language in Western Azerbaijan, and everyone spoke either Azerbaijani or Armenian. On the other hand, all documentation in state institutions was carried out in Armenian. Therefore, it is normal for me and other deputies born and raised in Western Azerbaijan to know Armenian: "Especially during the last deportation, everyone who was forced to leave their ancestral lands or worked in public service in Western Azerbaijan for some time knows Armenian to one degree or another. It is another matter that in the last 38 years, the Armenian language has been somewhat forgotten. I must emphasize once again that our deputies, including myself, who lived a certain period of their lives in Western Azerbaijan, know Armenian to some extent. Especially researchers like me who deal with the issue of Western Azerbaijan have to read some writings and texts in Armenian, it is impossible without it," he emphasized.
Deputy Hikmat Babaoglu noted that he learned Armenian in high school: "Deputies of Western Azerbaijani origin, depending on their age, who were born and educated in Armenia, know Armenian to one degree or another. Consequently, if you are referring specifically to me, I learned Armenian in high school. I know the Armenian alphabet and have not forgotten it to this day. Because the Armenian alphabet was regularly taught to us. I know Armenian at a level that can be mastered in high school."
Our interlocutor said that when writing a book, he uses a dictionary for the Armenian language in his family library: "It should be taken into account that time dictates many things, and a language that is not used as a means of communication is undoubtedly forgotten. Nevertheless, a few years ago, when I wrote the book 'Armenian Lie from Akdamar to Sari Gelin', I restored my memory by using the Armenian-Azerbaijani dictionary in our family library, and since this did not turn into constant communication, I forgot it again."
Our interlocutor also noted that it was not difficult for him to re-learn the Armenian language: "But in all cases, it would not be difficult for me to restore the Armenian language in my memory in a short time for the deputies who studied and grew up in Armenia. Because a certain basic part of this language exists in the initial memory."
Deputy Azay Guliyev noted that during his time in Western Azerbaijan, they spoke Azerbaijani with Armenians, and they knew our language perfectly: "I was born in 1971 in Garakilsa (Sisian) district and finished high school in the village. Both Azerbaijanis and Armenians lived in our village of Vagudi. I studied in Azerbaijani in high school, but Armenian was also taught separately at school. We mainly spoke Azerbaijani with Armenians, they knew our language perfectly. They also called us Turks, the first question they asked when we first met was 'Are you Armenian or Turk?'"
Azay Guliyev stated that at that time he could read and write in Armenian and express his thoughts freely: "My peers were not so inclined to speak Armenian, we thought that the Armenian should speak to us in our own language, Azerbaijani. But my late father knew Armenian perfectly, he worked as a teacher in the village, teaching Azerbaijani language and literature. My father also worked as the chairman of the village soviet for some time. I remember well, when disputes sometimes arose on national grounds at school, my father would give Armenians convincing answers in their own language. When I finished high school in May 1988, I could write and read in Armenian, and I could express my thoughts freely."
Azay Guliyev understands what Armenian representatives talk about among themselves at international events: "Now I can say that I have forgotten many words, I understand approximately 50 percent when Armenian is spoken. Sometimes we sit next to the Armenian delegation at the OSCE PA, and my understanding of Armenian is also useful in terms of knowing the issues that the other side wants to use against us. However, I have difficulty expressing my thoughts freely in Armenian. In any case, I have not used this language for 38 years."
Deputy Rizvan Nabiyev stated that during his education at the Ganli village secondary school in Basarkechar, Armenian was taught twice a week: "Initially, this language was taught by an Armenian-speaking teacher. Then, an Azerbaijani teacher taught us Armenian. We learned the Armenian alphabet, wrote and read texts. But representatives of the older generation spoke and wrote more freely in this language."
The deputy says that his father received his technical education in Armenian: "My father even received his technical education in Armenian. In the late 60s, this was considered very important for technical issues. Later, when he worked in the district center, knowing that language created certain advantages."
According to him, there were also Armenians who knew Azerbaijani: "After being deported in December 1988, our opportunities to use and read this language disappeared. Today, our language knowledge is at a weak level."
One of the proofs of our living in those lands was those schools and education: "What is important is that one of the factors confirming our living in those lands is the existence of schools there, our education there, and even our learning the local language," he concluded.
Deputy from Tumanyan (Allahverdi) district of Western Azerbaijan, chairman of the Great Azerbaijan Party, Elshad Musayev said that he does not know Armenian: "There were no Armenians in Allahverdi district where we lived, so this language was not taught in schools, and I don't know it for that reason."
Member of Parliament Malahat Ibrahimqizi, originally from Basarkechar, also stated that she does not know Armenian.
