Last week, a conference was held at the U.S. Congress for the first time to advocate for the recognition of the Western Azerbaijanis’ right of return. At the conclusion of the event, a final appeal was addressed to both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. The organization of such a conference in the U.S. Congress on this issue is regarded as another example of the successful foreign policy pursued by President Ilham Aliyev.
The demands voiced at the U.S. Congress represented not merely the outcome of a conference, but also the collective voice of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis who were forcibly displaced from Armenia.
At a time when the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the European Parliament, the French Senate, and various groups perceived as being influenced by the Armenian lobby continue to extend one-sided support to Armenia, their silence regarding the suffering endured by more than 300,000 Azerbaijanis reflects a clear example of double standards and political hypocrisy.
The presence of the leadership and representatives of the radical Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) in the conference hall underscored the concern of pro-Armenian organizations and their supporters over the discussion of this issue in the U.S. Congress.
However, there is no reason for such concern. The right of Western Azerbaijanis to return is not a territorial claim, nor does it pose a threat to Armenia’s sovereignty. Rather, it is a fundamental human right.
The fulfillment of the legitimate and just demands of Western Azerbaijanis, enabling them to return safely and with dignity to their ancestral lands, could make a significant contribution to building trust in the region and establishing a durable architecture for lasting peace.
The application of double standards, selective approaches, and the politicization of humanitarian law in relation to the recognition of the right of return should come to an end. The fate of Azerbaijanis, who have reportedly been subjected to ethnic cleansing on four separate occasions throughout history, should also receive the attention and concern of the international community.
International organizations and the broader international community should keep this issue high on their agenda, refrain from ignoring historical realities, and support the recognition of the rights of Western Azerbaijanis.
Member of the Parliament of Azerbaijan and Member of the Foreign and Inter-Parliamentary Relations Committee.
