Repeated attempts by the West Azerbaijan Community (WAC) to initiate dialogue with the Armenian government on the issue of return have remained unanswered.
Oku.Az The report states that this was stated by Ulviyya Zulfigar, head of the community’s Public Relations Department and spokesperson for West Azerbaijan Television, at an event held within the framework of the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council on the theme “Using the right of return – as an important incentive for peace and reconciliation.”
In his speech, he told about the history of the forced expulsion of Azerbaijanis from the territory of Armenia, where they were then an absolute majority, and stressed that the painful consequences of deportations have not yet been eliminated.
U. Zulfiqar noted that repeated attempts by the National Security Agency to initiate dialogue with the Armenian government on the issue of return remained unanswered:
“Instead, we hear statements questioning the right of return of Azerbaijanis from Armenia. The Armenian government even prevents us from visiting our homes and holy sites. We expect support from the international community, especially from the United Nations human rights institutions. This support is very important, because Armenian access to our homes and community efforts alone are not enough to overcome the obstacles to our return.”
The community official called on UN human rights institutions, including special rapporteurs, to prepare reports and take other necessary measures to eliminate the violation of the rights of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia, especially the denial of their right to return.
During the event, the representative of Armenia spoke. He said that Armenia “supports the right of every displaced person and refugee to return home.” The representative of Armenia tried to present the statement of West Azerbaijan as a territorial claim against Armenia.
In her response, Ulviyya Zulfiqar said that the name of the West Azerbaijan Community is based on historical and geographical facts and that Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia have the right to return.
The spokesman also mentioned that the CAA addressed calls for dialogue to the Prime Minister of Armenia.
