Ankara hosts international conference on return to Western Azerbaijan, calls for justice and reconciliation

An international conference titled “Return to Western Azerbaijan as an Essential Condition for the Supremacy of Human Rights” convened this week in Ankara, Türkiye, bringing together over 250 participants from Azerbaijan and Türkiye.

The event spotlighted the long-standing issue of Azerbaijani displacement from historical lands in Western Azerbaijan, now within the borders of present-day Armenia.

The conference was co-organized by the Western Azerbaijan Community and the “Azerbaijan-Türkiye House” Public Union, with support from the Baku International Multiculturalism Center, ADA University, and the Center of Analysis of International Relations.

Adalat Valiyev, Head of the Department for Relations with Political Parties and Legislative Authority of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, delivered a message from President Ilham Aliyev, who stressed the significance of holding such a forum in Türkiye—Azerbaijan’s closest ally and regional partner.

The event featured a film produced by Western Azerbaijan Television, showcasing the historical realities of Western Azerbaijan, the displacement of its Azerbaijani population in the 20th century, and the community’s vision for a peaceful and dignified return.

Efkan Ala, First Deputy Chairman of Türkiye’s Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and member of the Grand National Assembly (TBMM), noted the historical importance of Türkiye hosting the first major international conference on the subject. He emphasized shared cultural ties and the need for unity in addressing historical injustices.

The conference included panel discussions featuring notable historians and scholars such as İlber Ortaylı, Aygün Attar, Tufan Gündüz, Okan Yeşilot, and İbrahim Ethem Atnur, who explored the historical, legal, and humanitarian dimensions of the Western Azerbaijani issue.

Final Declaration and Key Outcomes

Participants adopted a final declaration asserting that Azerbaijanis in Western Azerbaijan were subjected to systematic ethnic cleansing throughout the 20th century, resulting in the forcible displacement of hundreds of thousands and the destruction of their cultural heritage.

The statement called the safe and voluntary return of Western Azerbaijanis to their ancestral homes not only a moral and legal imperative, but also a prerequisite for peace and reconciliation in the South Caucasus.

Key recommendations from the declaration include:

• Initiating constructive dialogue between Armenia and the Western Azerbaijani Community.
• Allowing UNESCO and international monitoring missions to assess and protect Azerbaijani cultural heritage in Armenia.
• Restoring and safeguarding the property rights of displaced Azerbaijanis.
   

Participants expressed strong support for President Ilham Aliyev’s leadership, commending his efforts to promote peaceful return, adherence to international law, and regional stability. They also welcomed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s unwavering backing of truth, justice, and reconciliation in the region.

The conference concluded with a group photo, symbolizing unity in the ongoing pursuit of justice and human rights for displaced Western Azerbaijanis.

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