Politics 11:32 06/12/2023 Armenia

Azerbaijan plans takeover of Armenia to create 'Western Azerbaijan'

By Harut Sassounian

Publisher, The California Courier

While Armenians are dealing with the dispossession of Artsakh and trying to cope with its tragic consequences, Azerbaijan is escalating its demands by launching a campaign claiming that the entire territory of the Republic of Armenia is supposedly ‘Western Azerbaijan.’ No sensible person in the world would take such an outrageous lie seriously, simply because Azerbaijan was founded a little over a century ago, while Armenia has been in existence for thousands of years. Even Coca Cola is older than Azerbaijan!

After establishing the ‘Western Azerbaijan Committee’ with the blessing of Pres. Aliyev, Azerbaijan has embarked on a worldwide campaign to disseminate its ridiculous scheme around the world and at the United Nations. Those Armenians who are concerned about Azerbaijan’s expansionist plans over the Syunik province of Armenia or the so-called Zangezur Corridor should be more alarmed about Azerbaijan’s enormous appetite to take over all of the Republic of Armenia, after occupying Artsakh.

Here are four actions Azerbaijan has taken at the UN in recent months:

1) Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the UN Yashar Aliyev circulated to all members of the General Assembly and Security Council a letter by the ‘Western Azerbaijan Committee’ on January 17, 2023, stating that “All Azerbaijanis expelled from the territory of nowadays Armenia and their descendants have the right to return to their homeland.”

2) A second letter was submitted by Azerbaijan to the UN on February 22, 2023, accusing Armenians of carrying out acts of “violence, genocide, massacres and other crimes against humanity and gross violations of human rights. This process was particularly violent and cruel in 1905–1906, 1918–1921, 1948–1953 and 1987–1991.” The letter added that “in nowadays Armenia, Azerbaijani historical and cultural heritage, including mosques and graveyards, were massively destroyed, toponyms were changed and systematic racial discrimination was carried out against Azerbaijanis.”

Moreover, Azerbaijan demanded that the UN take the following steps for the settlement of Azerbaijanis in Armenia:

“− Obtaining a legally binding international agreement with appropriate verification and guarantee mechanisms ensuring the voluntary return of Azerbaijanis expelled from the territory of nowadays Armenia to their homeland in safety and dignity;
− Securing the return process with appropriate security, humanitarian and socio-economic assistance programs;
− Establishing international monitoring, accountability, security, intervention and other necessary activities to prevent the recurrence of expulsion, discrimination and harm to the returned population;
− Ensuring sustainable rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees through the implementation of reconstruction and reconciliation measures under international supervision.”

Azerbaijan’s UN Ambassador demanded that Azeris who return to Armenia “have unimpeded communication with the Republic of Azerbaijan.” This is a very alarming suggestion which means that the Republic of Azerbaijan wants to have a road under its control within the territory of Armenia. The letter added that Azeris returning to Armenia should not be dispersed throughout the country, but kept together as a group and their safety and rights ensured. Even more alarming is the demand that Azeris be able to “use the Azerbaijani language in the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the [Armenian] Government.” Azerbaijan added the following ridiculous demand: “Azerbaijanis shall be entitled to form local security forces and take an appropriate role in courts” of Armenia. This actually means that Armenia will be an appendix to Azerbaijan rather than a sovereign republic.

Furthermore, to ensure the safety of Azeris returning to Armenia, Azerbaijan “considers it necessary to deploy an international security mission with an appropriate mandate and comprised of the forces of countries trusted by Western Azerbaijanis in the areas to which they will be returning.” In other words, Azerbaijan wants to station foreign troops on Armenia’s territory, which is completely unacceptable. Azerbaijan also stated that “The Government of Armenia shall ensure the return of property and community lands belonging to Azerbaijanis and pay compensation for property damage and losses caused by preventing the use of property.” Those who make such insane demands are living in a make-believe world.

3) The ‘Western Azerbaijan Committee’ delivered a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in April 2023, requesting him “to send a special UN mission to Armenia for launching the process of safe and dignified return of Azerbaijanis expelled from this country.”

4) The ‘Western Azerbaijan Committee’ submitted a report in October 2023 to the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. According to the Azeri media, the UN Committee “demanded that Armenia address the issues raised by the Western Azerbaijan Committee.” If there is any truth in this claim, I hope that Armenia’s UN Representative responded to Azerbaijan’s allegations and exposed the Azeri lies.

This is the vindictive enemy that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan naively believes he can sign a ‘Peace Treaty’ with. This unnecessary ‘Peace Treaty’ will actually undermine Armenia’s interests. Azerbaijan is already demanding that the rights of “Azeris expelled from Armenia” be included in such a treaty, thus providing the ground for future aggression and occupation by Azerbaijan. The Azeri letter to the UN in fact includes such an alarming provision: “the [Azeri] Community will aspire to include the creation of conditions for the return of Western Azerbaijanis to their homeland as an obligation of Armenia in the peace treaty to be concluded between Azerbaijan and Armenia.”

The only way to end this nonsense is for Armenia to stop the slippery slope of making endless concessions to Azerbaijan and reject all of its unacceptable demands.



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

17:13
Protesters demand release of Armenian prisoners, sanctions against Aliyev regime
A delegation led by the speakers and deputy speakers of the parliaments from the Nordic-Baltic Eight countries is currently in Armenia....
16:30
Armenian parliament likely to pass EU accession bill, Pashinyan says
The Armenian parliament will highly likely adopt the bill seeking to launch the process of Armenia’s accession to the European Union,...
16:06
MP: Serzh Sargsyan's EAEU accession decision was not made overnight
Hayk Mamijanyan, head of the opposition Pativ Unem parliamentary faction which is part of the former ruling Republican Party of...
15:30
Armenian, Kyrgyz FMs to hold joint news conference
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Kyrgyz counterpart Zheenbek Kulubaev will hold a joint news conference to sum up the...
15:00
Unfreezing Armenia’s participation in CSTO not discussed in Putin-Pashinyan call, Kremlin says
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan did not discuss the idea of unfreezing the republic’s...
14:35
Armenian security chief warns of intense flights likely carrying military equipment to Baku
Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan has expressed concern over the latest statements made by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev...
14:05
Report warns of additional risks for Armenia amid possible economic slowdown in Russia
The sanctions against Russia, combined with the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, are heightening the risk of an economic slowdown in Russia and...
13:36
Newly opened hospital in Armenian town 'flooded'
The newly opened Martuni Medical Center in Armenia’s Gegharkunik Province has been literally flooded, Photos and videos shared on...
13:13
Opposition MP accuses Armenian leadership of planning more concessions to Azerbaijan
Artsvik Minasyan, an MP from the opposition Hayastan faction, has denounced the Armenian government's decision to continue the border...
12:33
Armenia unlikely to unfreeze its CSTO membership in 2025 – Foreign Intelligence Service
Armenia is unlikely to unfreeze its membership in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in 2025, the Foreign...
12:06
Risk of large-scale Azeri attack on Armenia low, report says
The analysis of available facts and phenomena indicates a low risk of a large-scale Azerbaijani attack on Armenia at this...
11:34
212 bodies pulled from rubble in Gaza after ceasefire
As many as 212 bodies have been retrieved from under the debris of ruined houses in the Gaza Strips after the ceasefire came into effect, the Al...
11:21
Drivers warned of black ice in parts of Armenia
The Rescue Service has warned drivers about a road closure and icy conditions in Armenia. In particular, the road connecting the Amberd high...
11:00
Pashinyan, wife travel to Switzerland
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his wife Anna Hakobyan left for Switzerland on a working visit on January 23-24 to participate...
17:05
Expert: Aliyev's statements serve Pashinyan's domestic political goals
In a televised interview in early 2025, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made fresh threats against Armenia. However, the Armenian leadership...
16:30
Yerevan mayor announces new changes to transport fares
Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan has announced changes to the city's public transport fares that will be approved at the upcoming City Council...
16:00
Pashinyan 'shocked' by deadly ski resort fire in Turkey
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has expressed shock over the devastating hotel fire at a ski resort in Turkey's Bolu...
15:35
15 candidates self-nominated for Chamber of Advocates Council
Fifteen candidates have self-nominated for the Council of Armenia's Chamber of Advocates. The election will take place at its general...
15:00
New head of Armenian parliament health committee named
The pro-government majority in the Armenian parliament on Wednesday elected MP Arsen Torosyan as new head of the Standing Committee on Health...
14:36
MP: Turkey and Azerbaijan assessing risks of new aggression against Armenia
Tigran Abrahamyan, an MP from the opposition Pativ Unem faction in the Armenian parliament, claims that Donald Trump's return to the White...
13:53
Public transport fare increase in Yerevan based on outdated calculations, expert says
Babken Pipoyan, head of the Informed and Protected Consumer NGO, has criticized the upcoming increase in public transport fares in Yerevan,...
13:10
Expert calls for replacement of Armenian ambassador to U.S.
Political analyst Suren Sargsyan has urged Armenia’s authorities to appoint a new ambassador to the United States under the Donald...
12:34
Alexander Sirunyan withdraws candidacy for SJC membership
Alexander Sirunyan on Wednesday officially withdrew his candidacy as a member of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), Lurer quoted Hayk...
12:12
National Gallery of Armenia opens exhibition on Artsakh
An exhibition of Yerevan-based artist Lousineh Navasartian's Silence project has opened at the National Gallery of Armenia....
11:36
Lobbyist for genocide denialist Turkey should donate earnings to Armenians
By Harut Sassounian www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com Former Cong. Bob Livingston published a commentary in the Wall Street Journal last week...
11:20
Drivers warned of icy roads in parts of Armenia
The Rescue Service has warned drivers about a road closure and icy conditions in Armenia. In particular, the road connecting the Amberd high...
11:12
Armenia offers condolences to Turkey over deadly ski resort fire
The Armenia Foreign Ministry has extended condolences to Turkey following the deadly fire at a ski resort hotel that killed at least...
17:00
Newmag to publish Henrikh Mkhitaryan's autobiography
Newmag will release Armenian football star Henrikh Mkhitaryan's autobiography this year, its founder Artak Aleksanyan has...
16:35
Russia's Lavrov announces plans to visit Armenia
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced his plans to visit Yerevan following talks with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat...
16:21
Discussions on Minsk Group dissolution underway, Armenian speaker says
Discussions are underway regarding the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group, Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan told reporters on...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}