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:
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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Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday voiced deep concern over the escalating tensions following the United States’ military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling on all sides to prioritize diplomacy over confrontation.
The Pentagon concluded a high-stakes press briefing Saturday afternoon following the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, outlining the scale and success of the mission while stressing the door remains open to diplomacy.
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Iran's top security body, the SNSC, will decide on closing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil and gas chokepoint, after parliament's reported approval. A Revolutionary Guards commander stated the measure is "on the agenda," signaling escalating tensions.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday voiced deep concern over the escalating tensions following the United States’ military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling on all sides to prioritize diplomacy over confrontation.
Türkiye has voiced strong concern following the United States’ strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, warning that the action could dangerously escalate the conflict and trigger a global crisis.
Iran’s top diplomat on Sunday issued a stark condemnation of the United States following overnight military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, declaring that Washington had crossed a "very big red line" and would be held "fully responsible" for the consequences.
The United States' military strike on three Iranian nuclear facilities Sunday triggered sharply divided reactions from the international community, with Israel lauding the move as a historic decision while Iran, the United Nations, and numerous other nations condemned the attack.
Senior Russian officials have condemned the United States’ recent military strikes on Iran, warning of a spiralling regional conflict and accusing U.S. President Donald Trump of igniting a "new war" that could backfire by strengthening Iran's leadership.
The United States has clarified that its recent military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities were not intended to overthrow the Iranian government, but to neutralise what it described as urgent threats to national security, amid rising tensions and fears of broader regional conflict.
Iran's top security body, the SNSC, will decide on closing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil and gas chokepoint, after parliament's reported approval. A Revolutionary Guards commander stated the measure is "on the agenda," signaling escalating tensions.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday voiced deep concern over the escalating tensions following the United States’ military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling on all sides to prioritize diplomacy over confrontation.
The Pentagon concluded a high-stakes press briefing Saturday afternoon following the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, outlining the scale and success of the mission while stressing the door remains open to diplomacy.
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