After the Washington agreement of August 8, various claims have been made regarding the activities of the Western Azerbaijan Community. One of them was about the dissolution of the Community. Another claim concerned the dissolution of the Initiative Group for Return to Western Azerbaijan, established in the Milli Majlis. Against the backdrop of these claims, perceptions have also emerged that the operationality and activity of the Western Azerbaijan Community have decreased.
Modern.az discussed all these issues with Aziz Alakbarli, Chairman of the Western Azerbaijan Community and Member of the Milli Majlis. We present the interview with the Community Chairman:
- After the August 8 agreement, some claims were spread regarding institutions related to Western Azerbaijan. One of these claims is that the Initiative Group in the Milli Majlis concerning Western Azerbaijan may be dissolved in the near future. To what extent is this true?
- Naturally, it is not true. Some time ago, the same claim was made about the Western Azerbaijan Community itself. Undoubtedly, the source of this false information was the Armenian media. And in my statement to the press, I refuted this false information, stating that the Community's work is a public activity aimed at ensuring human rights and the right of return, as enshrined in international conventions. In this sense, the Community's activities have no direct connection with interstate relations or a peace agreement.
Now, the same claim is being made about the Initiative Group in the Milli Majlis concerning Western Azerbaijan, which is completely absurd. Over the past year, the Initiative Group has carried out significant effective activities, utilizing the opportunities of parliamentary diplomacy to convey the realities of Western Azerbaijan and the right of return of our compatriots to their native lands to the international community, and will continue to do so. I currently see no objective socio-historical necessity for it to cease its activities.
- The Western Azerbaijan Community has been distinguished by its operationality. Until now, immediate reactions have been given to a number of important issues, and statements have been issued. Recently, however, this tendency seems to have subsided. What is the reason for this?
- There can be no talk of any slowdown in any direction of the Community's activities. Imagine that in July alone, high-level presentations of the Community's published book “Western Azerbaijan Heritage” on the Armenian genocide against our national and spiritual values in our historical lands were held in 84 cities and regions of Azerbaijan. As for statements, as you know, before the Washington meetings, countless baseless slanders and accusations were made by the Armenian side against Azerbaijan. This was often done by various state officials of Armenia, and at that time, the right of return of Western Azerbaijanis was either denied or ignored. As the Western Azerbaijan Community, we were obliged to defend our rights. After the Washington meetings, however, some attempts at constructiveness regarding this issue are being felt on the opposing side; the issue of Western Azerbaijanis returning to their native homes has already become a topic of discussion in the Armenian community, and there are even those who admit that this issue is inevitable. Therefore, we also deem it appropriate to demonstrate an adequate attitude towards the processes. However, this should not be understood in the sense that "the Western Azerbaijan Community is retreating from its goal"; our cause is just, it is based on international law, and the right of return of our compatriots must be recognized and ensured. This is also of great importance for the stable and lasting trust and reliability between the two peoples and two states; the coexistence of peoples is one of the essential conditions for peace.
- What does the current activity of the Western Azerbaijan Community mainly consist of?
- We have one goal: Return to our ancestral lands... All the details of this are reflected in our Return Concept. Our activities continue systematically towards the implementation of this Concept. Undoubtedly, the main focus is on organizing our people around the idea of Return, expanding educational work among our nation, revealing the truths of Western Azerbaijan, and conveying them to the world community.
- What has the Initiative Group in the Milli Majlis achieved so far through its activities?
- As you know, the Milli Majlis has very extensive international relations. Working groups with the majority of countries in the world operate within the Milli Majlis, and our deputies regularly travel to foreign countries to participate in these groups and various international events. At the same time, parliamentary groups from foreign countries are frequent guests of the Azerbaijani parliament. Our deputies, led by the esteemed Speaker of the Milli Majlis, Sahiba Gafarova, draw attention to the return rights of Western Azerbaijan refugees at every opportunity. Let me remind you of one fact: this year, from April 11-13, the IV Diplomacy Forum was held in Antalya, Turkey, under the patronage of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey. At that Forum, I, as a member of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Chairman of the Western Azerbaijan Community, delivered a speech on the issue of Western Azerbaijan in the “Parliamentary Diplomacy and Global Governance” panel. This was another success of Azerbaijani diplomacy.
- What is your message to those who doubt the return to Western Azerbaijan?
- No one should doubt that we will return to our ancestral lands. No one should even imagine that this activity will ever stop halfway. The foundation of the idea of returning to Western Azerbaijan was laid by the great leader Heydar Aliyev, and Mr. President Ilham Aliyev's historic speech on December 24, 2022, at the administrative building of the Western Azerbaijan Community is our roadmap.
