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Azerbaijani FM raises issue of return to Western Azerbaijan at UN Human Rights Council session

Jeyhun Bayramov, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister

13 September 2023 13:04 (UTC +04:00)

Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijani territories for nearly 30 years witnessed war crimes and crimes against humanity including ethnic cleansing without sparing even children, elderly and women. Armenia's aggression resulted denial of humanitarian rights of hundreds and thousands of Azerbaijanis including right to live, education, safety, protection and health,” Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said as he addressed the 54th session of UN Human Rights Council meeting, APA reports.

“From 1987 to 1991, Armenia forcefully expelled more than two hundred thousand Azerbaijanis from the ancestral homeland in Armenia, blatant violation of international law. All Azerbaijani settlements and toponyms in Armenia were renamed and our historical and cultural heritage were deliberately targeted, vandalized and destroyed. Despite repeated calls by the expelled Azerbaijanis to launch genuine dialogue and ensure safe and dignified return to the homeland the government of Armenia persistently denies them, exercising fundamental right of free return enshrined in the Universal Declaration of human rights civil and political right, the convention related to the status of refugees and other important international acts.

We expect High Commissioner and other UN specialized instruments including the relevant procedure mandate holders to address the rights of Azerbaijanis once expelled from their homes in Armenia. It is of utmost importance to hold Armenia accountable on the international stage for its grave breach of international human rights law against Azerbaijanis. This will represent significant stride towards achieving justice for the victims of such offences and will be crucial for genuine reconciliation,” the minister added.