Concept of ‘Western Azerbaijan’ is direct threat to Armenia’s sovereignty — MFA

The Armenian Foreign Ministry has expressed deep disappointment over the distorted and extremely one-sided language contained in the “Istanbul Declaration” and the resolutions introduced at Azerbaijan’s initiative during the recent ministerial conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The ministry noted that the emphases set forth in these documents contradict the interests and logic of establishing lasting peace in the region.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry called on OIC member states that supported the aforementioned declaration and resolutions to reconsider their stance and firmly reject biased initiatives that undermine Armenia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry described the promotion of the concept of “Western Azerbaijan” under the pretext of protecting human rights as an attempt by Azerbaijan to put forward territorial claims to Armenia’s sovereign territory. It noted that the so-called “Western Azerbaijan” includes areas that have never been part of the Republic of Azerbaijan and therefore cannot be considered in this context.

As for Azerbaijanis living in Soviet Armenia, according to the Foreign Ministry, they left voluntarily in the late 1980s, having sold or exchanged their property or received compensation from the Armenian authorities. At the same time, the ministry emphasized that the fate of Armenians in Azerbaijan was tragic: mass violence, displacement and killings. In 2023 alone, more than 115 thousand residents of Nagorno-Karabakh were forced to leave their homes, becoming refugees.