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Settlement of the Armenian population in historical Azerbaijani lands- Karabakh and Zangezur, from the beginning of the 19th century, forcibly changing the demographic situation, mass massacres in 1 and 1918, aimed at scaring and expelling the Azerbaijani population, the transfer of Zangezur to Armenia in the 1920s, the resettlement of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis from their ancestral homes in the territory of present-day Armenia in 1948–1953 are bloody pages in the history of Armenian aggression against our people.
The address to the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of March 31 – Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis, 29.03.2005
https://ilhamaliyev.preslib.az/docs/i09.pdf
From the historical point of view, Karabakh has always been the land of Azerbaijan, it is our land. You probably know very well that Iravan was given to Armenia by the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan when it was established. Most of the people living in the Iravan Khanate were Azerbaijanis. All the inhabitants of Zangezur region were Azerbaijanis. Therefore, from the historical point of view, this is our land.
The speech at the second meeting of the heads of the diplomatic services of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 14.08.2006
https://ilhamaliyev.preslib.az/docs/i09.pdf
Our ancestral lands, the Khanate of Iravan, Zangezur district, and other lands have now become the lands of the Armenian state. These are our historical lands, but we do not assert territorial claims against Armenia. However, we can assert, because the territory where Armenia is located today is the ancient Turkish and Azerbaijani lands.
The speech at the 1st forum of leaders of Azerbaijani and Turkish diaspora organizations, 09.03.2007
https://files.preslib.az/projects/diaspora/c6.pdf
…the current state of Armenia was formed on the historical lands of Azerbaijan. The leadership of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan gave the city of Iravan to Armenia in 1918. To put it mildly, it was also a big mistake. In 1918, when the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan was established, it donated the city of Iravan to Armenia. Iravan Khanate is the ancient land of Azerbaijan. I want to say once again that Armenians came to this region as guests.
The speech at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Sports Complex in Guzanli settlement of Aghdam district, 17.01.2008
https://azertag.az/xeber/AGDAM_OLIMPIYA_IDMAN_KOMPLEKSININ_ACHILIS_MARASIMI-398305
We have no claims to the land of another country. However, today’s Armenia was created in the ancient lands of Azerbaijan. Iravan khanate, Zangezur district are our lands. Nevertheless, we support the principle of territorial integrity of countries. I am confident that we will achieve what we want.
The speech at the opening ceremony of the residential complex built for internally displaced families in Baku, 17.11.2009
https://ilhamaliyev.preslib.az/docs/i09.pdf
Everyone knows very well that today’s Armenia was created in the ancient lands of Azerbaijan. Iravan khanate, Zangezur district – all these are the lands of Azerbaijan. In 1918, Iravan was donated to Armenia. Not even 100 years have passed since that date, and they have new territorial claims against us. Armenian state was created on the lands of Azerbaijan.
The speech at the opening of a new settlement built for internally displaced persons within the framework of his visit to Goranboy district, 20.11.2009
https://files.preslib.az/projects/conflict/gl5.pdf
Armenians have already determined their destiny. They have the state of Armenia, although this state was also created on the historical lands of Azerbaijan. This is clear to everyone. After the declaration of independence of Azerbaijan in 1918, the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan decided to concede the city of Iravan to Armenia as its capital the very next day. The city of Iravan was the center of the Iravan Khanate where Azerbaijanis lived. Armenians have already created their own state on the lands of Azerbaijan.
The speech at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia within the framework of his state visit to Estonia, 07.04.2010
https://lib.aliyev-heritage.org/print.php?lang=az&page=6966585
As a result of the Zangezur region, which is an ancient and inseparable land of the Turkic world, separation from Azerbaijan and itd transfer to Armenia, the geographical connection between the Turkic world was broken.
The speech at the 10th Summit of the Heads of the Turkic Speaking States in Istanbul, 16.09.2010
https://president.az/az/articles/view/728/print
I have repeatedly said that today’s Armenia – the territory called the Republic of Armenia – is the ancient land of Azerbaijan. It is true. Of course, Zangezur, Iravan Khanate are our lands! Azerbaijanis lived there for centuries. Armenians inhabited only certain regions. But they began to settle en masse in the 19th century.
The speech at the opening ceremony of a new secondary school building in Yevlakh , 14.10.2010
https://president.az/az/articles/view/899
The first Armenian state was established in 1918 on the lands of Azerbaijan – in the territories of the Iravan Khanate and Zangezur district.
The opening speech at the meeting of Cabinet of Ministers on results of socio-economic development in nine months of 2010, 20.10.2010
https://files.preslib.az/projects/regions/r2/b3.pdf
Today’s state of Armenia was built on the historical lands of Azerbaijan. Iravan khanate and Zangezur district are our historical lands.
The speech at the farewell ceremony for National Hero of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mubariz Ibrahimov and Senior Lieutenant Farid Ahmadov, 07.11.2010
https://president.az/az/articles/view/1011
The state of Armenia today stands on the historical lands of Azerbaijan. This is a historical truth. We know the history very well. Most of the people who lived in the Iravan Khanate were Azerbaijanis. The Zengezur district was also forcibly torn from Azerbaijan in order to split the great Turkish world, and they succeeded. But the time will come when this injustice will be removed.
From the speech of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev while a group of youth and representatives of student youth organisations, 21.04.2011
https://president.az/az/articles/view/2000
Our scientists positively responded to my appeal and created wonderful works on the history of this region based on real facts in a short period of time. Most importantly, works on the history of the Iravan Khanate are of special importance, because unfortunately, the world community was almost unaware that the present-day Armenian state had been established on historical Azerbaijani lands.
…With our initiatives, appeals to history and specific evidence, we have substantiated our position that Iravan was handed over to Armenia as its capital by the Azerbaijani state in 1918. Most of the population in the Iravan Khanate was Azerbaijani. The Zangezur region is an ancient Azerbaijani land and was artificially handed over to Armenia. The handover of the Zangezur region to Armenia was a great injustice. Part of our land was annexed to Armenia. This had a great negative impact. This divided the entire Turkic world. Today the Turkic world is geographically divided.
The opening speech at the annual general assembly of the National Academy of Sciences, 26.04.2011
https://president.az/az/articles/view/2041
The history of present-day Armenia has formed on Azerbaijani territories. The Iravan Khanate, the Zangezur region, are our historical lands. If we look at the map, we can see that Zangezur was separated from Azerbaijan and given to Armenia, resulting in a significant geographical division in the Turkic world. In other words, there were very negative consequences of giving Zangezur to Armenia. We do not currently claim that these territories should reunite with Azerbaijan. However, every Azerbaijani, every citizen, every child should know their history. They should know that these regions are historical Azerbaijani lands. For the resolution of this matter, of course, all factors should be taken into account. History is clear.
The speech at the III Congress of World Azerbaijanis, 05.07.2011
https://president.az/az/articles/view/2717
The current state of Armenia was established on historically Azerbaijani lands. On my advice our scientists have created wonderful books and researches about this history. In particular, the Iravan khanate is our ancient historical land. The Iravan khanate, Zangezur, Karabakh are our territories. From here, from your battle positions, we can see the Gulistan village. The same village of Gulistan where the treaty was signed. After that agreement and the treaty of Turkmenchay, the Armenians were resettled here en masse from the territory of contemporary Iran.
The meeting with the soldiers at the military unit No “N” on the frontline in Goranboy district, 21.01.2012
https://president.az/az/articles/view/4133/print
… We have no claims to Armenian land even though those places are also historically Azerbaijani. The Iravan khanate, the Zangezur and Goycha regions are our lands on which the Armenians have created a state.
The interview to the Turkish television channel TRT, 29.02.2012
https://ilhamaliyev.preslib.az/docs/i09.pdf
The present-day Armenia’s history was formed on Azerbaijani territories. We are well aware of this history. The Iravan Khanate, Zangezur, and Goycha regions – all of these are our historical lands.
The congratulatory speech to the Azerbaijani people on the occasion of the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and the New Year, 31.12.2012
https://president.az/az/articles/view/7046
The Armenian state has been created on Azerbaijani territories. The Iravan Khanate, Zangezur, Goycha – all of these are our historical lands. The fact that in 1918 the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan conceded Iravan to Armenia is something that should never be forgotten. This is a historical fact.
The speech at the nationwide festivities on the occasion of Novruz holiday in Baku, 19.03.2013
https://ilhamaliyev.preslib.az/docs/i09.pdf
The present-day Armenia was also created on historically Azerbaijani lands. The Iravan khanate, the Goycha and Zangezur Mahals are our historical lands.
The speech at the official military parade on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the Armed Forces Azerbaijan, 26.06.2013
https://president.az/az/articles/view/8539
In recent years, including on my initiative, our scientists have created comprehensive and meaningful researches about the Iravan khanate, about our historical lands. We have to communicate this history to the younger generations. For example, the history of the proclamation of Iravan as the capital of Armenia was not known to many when we raised this issue and paid attention to it on the basis of historical facts. And everyone in Azerbaijan and the world already knows that Iravan was declared the capital of the Armenian state on the decision of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. Therefore, I think it is necessary to develop research papers reflecting the historical truth. Some of them have already been created but I believe that we should pay even more attention to this issue. I think that the issue of resettlement of Armenians to our historical lands is not sufficiently covered by Azerbaijani scientists.
The speech at the opening of the Guba Genocide Memorial Complex, 18.09.2013
https://president.az/az/articles/view/9397
In the past, an injustice was done to our people, when Zangezur, Azerbaijani land from time immemorial, was partitioned from Azerbaijan and given to Armenia. This was a great injustice – as Zangezur is a historical Azerbaijani land from time immemorial. Azerbaijanis made up the absolute majority of the population of Zangezur then. The names of all of the settlements of Zangezur were Azerbaijani names. Therefore injustice and ill-will towards the Azerbaijani people played the key role in the adoption of this decision. At the same time, by this decision, Azerbaijan was divided into two parts geographically. The great Turkic world was divided into two parts at the same time. This is an injustice, a running sore.
The speech at the ceremony dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, 08.04.2014
https://president.az/az/articles/view/11477
We will not tolerate a second self-styled Armenian state on our territory. The first Armenian state was also established on our territory, on ancient Azerbaijani lands of Iravan, Goycha and Zangezur. There will never be a second Armenian state.
The speech at the official reception on the occasion of May 28 – Republic Day, 27.05.2014
https://president.az/az/articles/view/11948
…Armenians are self-determined. They have an Armenian state, which was created on historically Azerbaijani lands. Perhaps many members of the Assembly do not know – the Armenian delegation knows – that one of the first decrees of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, which was created as a result of the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1918, made Yerevan the capital of the Armenian state. Armenians already have a state.
The speech at the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), 24.06.2014
https://president.az/az/articles/view/12149
On my initiative our scientists have created a large treatise on the Iravan khanate. This is very important. But this work reflects more factual and scientific matters. I think that for a wider audience it would be useful to release smaller brochures. I think that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism should prepare such brochures, so that they could be published in different languages and communicated to the foreign community. Also, the broad international audience was not aware of the transfer of Iravan to Armenia in 1918. When I first raised the issue, it seemed somewhat new to some people. But it is a reality. Everyone in Azerbaijan knows that now, and we must, as far as possible, point that out at international conferences, forums and events because this is the historical truth.
The speech at the 5th session of the heads of Azerbaijani diplomatic services, 07.07.2014
https://president.az/az/articles/view/12392
Today we know too well that the Armenian state was founded on historically Azerbaijani lands. The Iravan khanate, Zangezur, Goycha are all our historical lands. We, the Azerbaijanis, must return to this land, and we will return!
The speech at the military unit “N” in Aghdam, 06.08.2014
https://president.az/az/articles/view/12487
…Our society, especially the younger generation, should never forget that the Armenian state was established on Azerbaijani territories. These are our ancestral lands. All toponyms have Azerbaijani origins. To understand this, one only needs to look at the maps prepared in the early 20th century in the Russian Empire. It is impossible to find even a single Armenian toponym there. In present-day Armenia, 80 percent of all villages carry Azerbaijani-origin names. These are our historical lands, and we will definitely return to those lands. There is no other way. This is our strategic goal, and we are working towards it, and we will continue to work towards it. Our economic, political, military strength, our demographic situation, all provide the basis for this.
The opening speech at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to the results of the socio-economic development of the first quarter of 2015, 10.04.2015
https://president.az/az/articles/view/14805
Not only is Nagorno-Karabakh ours, but even the present-day Armenia was established on Azerbaijani territories. We all know this very well. The world also knows it now. The Iravan Khanate, Goycha, Zangezur region – these are our historical lands, and we Azerbaijanis must return to these lands, and we will return.
The speech at the opening of the new base of the Naval Forces and military unit No. “N” in the Garadagh region, 25.06.2015
https://president.az/az/articles/view/15689
Not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also Zangezur, an ancient Turkic region, is our historical land. The separation in the early 20th century of Zangezur from Azerbaijan and its transfer to Armenia essentially disrupted the geographical connection of the Turkic world.
The speech at the 5th Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States in Astana, 11.09.2015
https://president.az/az/articles/view/16110
Of course, our history is our greatest asset. Our history shows that Azerbaijanis have lived on this land for centuries. The present-day Armenia was created on historical Azerbaijani lands. One only needs to look at the maps published by tsarist Russia in the early 20th century to see that the absolute majority of the names of villages and towns located on the territory of the present-day Armenia have Azerbaijani origin. This is a reality. Azerbaijanis accounted for 70-80 percent of the population of the Iravan Khanate. I am very glad that on my recommendation a fundamental scientific research on the Iravan khanate has been created and translated into several languages. These works are based on facts and realities.
The speech at the general meeting dedicated to the 70th anniversary of ANAS, 09.11.2015
https://president.az/az/articles/view/16703
Armenians were settled in that area in the middle of the 19th century. If you look at the maps of the Tsarist Russia of the beginning of the 20th century you will see that the absolute majority of the names of the cities and villages of all the toponymes of today’s territory of Armenia have Azerbaijani origin. In 1918, when after the collapse of the Russian Empire the first Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan was established, one of the first decrees of that republic was to transfer Yerevan from Azerbaijan to Armenia. Today’s capital of Armenia is our historic city of Iravan, population of which in the beginning of the 20th century was 80 percent of Azerbaijani origin. Today, it is completely ethnically cleansed. So history and international law supports our position. As you can imagine this issue is number one for Azerbaijan, for every citizen of Azerbaijan. Despite these tragic events and occupation which continues until now, Azerbaijan managed to achieve great success in transformation.
The speech at the Leaders’ Forum of the 38th Session of UNESCO General Conference in Paris, 17.11.2015
https://president.az/az/articles/view/16799
Our historical lands are the Iravan Khanate, Zangezur and Goycha. The younger generation and the whole world must know this. I am glad that fundamental research papers are being developed, films produced and exhibitions organized in connection with this issue, the history of our ancestral lands. In the coming years, we should be more active in this direction, exhibitions and presentations should be held in different parts of the world because Iravan is our historical land and we, the Azerbaijanis, must return to these historical lands. This is our political and strategic goal, and we must gradually approach it.
The speech at the 6th congress of the New Azerbaijan Party, 08.02.2018
https://president.az/az/articles/view/26988
I have said this many times before, and I want to say it again: the territory of present-day Armenia is historical Azerbaijani land. There are numerous books and maps confirming this fact. On those maps, the vast majority of toponyms in present-day Armenia have Azerbaijani origins. Historical records show that in the early 19th century, the overwhelming majority, or more precisely, 80 percent of the population of the Iravan Khanate were Azerbaijanis. This is history, this is a historical fact. Those who do not know this should also be aware, and most importantly, Azerbaijani youth should know this. They should know that a significant portion of present-day Armenia is the historical land of Azerbaijan. We will never forget this, and we will never forget it.
The speech at the nationwide festivities on the occasion of Novruz holiday, 19.03.2018
https://president.az/az/articles/view/27508
We are also informing the world community, the world public that not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also the present-day Armenia are our historical lands. We are saying this to the world community not only in word but also with evidence. Researchs and history books are being written. Archives are studied. There are quite a few of historical documents confirming this. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Azerbaijanis accounted for 80 per cent of the population of the Iravan Khanate. We experienced several deportation campaigns. We must communicate this information and we do. And this is effective.
The speech at the inauguration ceremony, 18.04.2018
https://president.az/az/articles/view/28071
Zangezur is located between the mainland of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan region. The separation of Zangezur from the rest of Azerbaijan and its transfer to Armenia divided the great Turkic world geographically.
The speech at the7th Summit of Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States, 15.10.2019
https://president.az/az/articles/view/34442
The territory of the present Republic of Armenia is ancient Azerbaijani land. It is enought just to study the maps published by tsarist Russia in the early 20th century. Everyone will see that the vast majority of place names throughout the territory of present-day Armenia are of Azerbaijani origin.
The speech at the opening of the Tartar Olympic Sports Complex, 03.06.2020
https://president.az/az/articles/view/38976
In the early 1990s, Armenia’s policy of aggression against Azerbaijan led to the occupation of our lands. In fact, Armenia’s aggressive policy began in the late 1980s. At that time, 100,000 Azerbaijanis living in the present-day Republic of Armenia were expelled from their ancestral lands. Zangezur, Goycha and Iravan districts are our historical lands. Our people have lived in these lands for centuries, but the Armenian leadership expelled 100,000 Azerbaijanis from their native lands.
The speech at the Victory Parade dedicated to the Victory in the Patriotic War, 10.12.2020
https://president.az/az/articles/view/48793
Our yet another historic achievement will be to connect Zangilan, in the Eastern Zangezur region, with our ancient land of Western Zangezur, with Nakhchivan, via Ordubad, and onwards with Türkiye. I am sure that this will happen – I have no doubt about that.
The interview to Azerbaijan Television during his visit to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, 10.05.2021
https://president.az/az/articles/view/51454
… Zangezur is an ancient Azerbaijani land, this is truth. Zangezur was given to Armenia in 1920. Azerbaijanis lived around Lake Goycha, which Armenians call Sevan today. The issue is the same with Yerevan. They destroyed the historical part of Yerevan. Azerbaijanis lived there, including my ancestors. So, this is the fact, but it does not mean that we have territorial claims.
The speech at the international conference “New vision for South Caucasus: Post-conflict development and cooperation” held at ADA University, 13.07.2021
https://president.az/az/articles/view/51088
If there is East Zangezur, then there is also West Zangezur. Yes, West Zangezur is our ancestral land. I said that we have to return there. I said that ten years ago. All my speeches are available in the media. I said that it is the land of our ancestors, and we must return there. We will and we are already returning there. No one can stop us. We will definitely return because there is no other way.
The speech at the meeting with families of martyrs and war disabled in Khojasan settlement of Binagadi district of Baku, 14.07.2021
https://president.az/az/articles/view/52446
Basarkechar district is called Vardenis in Armenia, but the actual name of this district is Basarkechar, Goycha region, ancient Azerbaijani land. Basarkechar district was established in the territory of Armenia in 1930. The absolute majority of those living there were Azerbaijanis. Residents of Zod village were also Azerbaijanis. They were deported from Armenia. Only in June 1969, Armenia renamed Basarkechar district to Vardenis. I ask that the name Basarkechar, not Vardenis, be restored to our general lexicon when reports are prepared from this region of Azerbaijan. All other ancient Azerbaijani settlements located in the territory of present-day Armenia should be called by their original names. For example, I have been following the media coverage of the tensions on the Nakhchivan-Armenia border. Our media writes about what is happening in and around the Armenian village of Yeraskh. The name of this village is Arazdayan, and Azerbaijanis used to live there before deportation. Therefore, all ancient, i.e., historical names, must be restored. These names are also available in various books. Therefore, I request that both journalists and the general public use the original names of these places – not Vardenis but Basarkechar district, Basarkechar city.
The speech during his visit to Kalbajar and Lachin regions, 16.08.2021
https://president.az/az/articles/view/52742
We must inform the international community about the injustices committed against the Azerbaijani people and the resettlement of Armenians to Azerbaijani lands in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is a historical fact that Zangezur was severed from the rest of Azerbaijan and handed over to Armenia by the Soviet government in 1920. The fact that the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic ceded Iravan to Armenia two years prior to that is also a well-documented fact. In 1921, the Soviet government was preparing to perpetrate another provocation against us. Zangezur was taken away from us in November 1920, and a year later, the Caucasus Bureau wanted to take Karabakh away from us as well. However, it didn’t work, and the decision was made to keep Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan. Nevertheless, a year and a half later, on 7 July 1923, a completely unfounded and artificial entity was established in the territory of Azerbaijan – the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region. There was no basis for that. At that time, the number of Azerbaijanis living in present-day Armenia was probably twice as high as that of Armenians living in Karabakh. Still, for some reason, this autonomous region was established here, not there.
… Then the mass deportation of Azerbaijanis from Armenia in the 1940s and 50s was a great tragedy and yet another injustice against our people. Azerbaijanis were forcibly relocated from their historical lands to the Mil-Mughan zone of Azerbaijan.
The speech at the Fifth Congress of World Azerbaijanis in Shusha, 22.04.2022
https://president.az/az/articles/view/55859
In November 1920, by a decision of the Soviet government, our historical land of Western Zangezur was separated from Azerbaijan and annexed to Armenia without any grounds whatsoever. That was another act of enmity and injustice against our people. The Azerbaijani people lived for centuries in the east and the west of Zangezur. And all the toponyms of West Zangezur in present-day Armenia, the national composition of all the villages belonged to the Azerbaijani people.
The speech at the opening ceremony of the first stage of “Smart Village” project in Agali village of Zangilan district, 27.05.2022
https://president.az/az/articles/view/56208
If Armenia continues to put under question Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity then Azerbaijan will have no other choice but also put under question Armenian territorial integrity. And from historical point of view, we have much more rights to do it. Because the history of the last century clearly shows that in November 1920, six months after sovietization of Azerbaijan, the Soviet government took historical part of Azerbaijan – Zangezur and annexed it to Armenia. Therefore, if Armenia will demand status for Armenians in Karabakh, why shouldn’t Azerbaijanis demand status for Azerbaijanis in Western Zangezur? Because it was fully inhabited by Azerbaijanis. So, this way will lead to a deadlock and I think Armenian government should not forget the lessons of the second Karabakh war.
The speech at the opening of the IX Global Baku Forum, 16.06.2022
https://president.az/az/articles/view/56442
Recently, the Armenian leadership has once again started talking about some status lately. However, when the war ended, when Armenia signed the act of capitulation, there was a verbal agreement between us, the leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia, that the issue of status would not be touched upon again. Armenia followed this for some time but this talk has recently become an ordinary subject. Their prime minister and then their foreign minister have talked about the status of Karabakh. I said shortly after the war where the status went and what happened to it. I don’t want to repeat myself. If someone in Armenia has forgotten this, I can repeat it. But I think it is not necessary for now. Therefore, I think that it is very dangerous for Armenia to talk about the status because we can also start talking about the status, we can demand status for Zangezur, the Zangezur that was severed from us in November 1920. We are not talking about it, but we can and see what the result is.
The speech at the meeting dedicated to the results of the six months of 2022, 15.07.2022
https://president.az/az/articles/view/56665
Today, it is no secret that the Western Azerbaijan Community was denied its rights as a community that was deported for many years. Of course, talking about the rights of Western Azerbaijanis in a place where there was a problem with Karabakh might have looked like a premature fire. But today, we have brought this topic to the international arena. My recommendations, i.e., those I gave on 24 December, are being implemented. A special working group has been set up based on all the tasks I set and, at the same time, based on the suggestions from the ground. We have started working on a single concept. Of course, Western Azerbaijanis should return to their ancestral lands; this is their right, and all international conventions recognize this right of theirs. As the state of Azerbaijan, we must do our best to secure this right. Again, I said during the meeting with community representatives there that we wanted to do it peacefully, and I am sure we will achieve that. Because there are no mono-ethnic states in our area, in Eurasia in general, it would be good for Armenia, as they say, to escape this mono-ethnic state stigma. The best and fairest way for this is for Western Azerbaijanis to return to their native lands.
I also said during the meeting with the representatives of the Community that there was almost no life in the villages they had vacated after the deportation. Now there are videos, there are other documents, and there are people who visited those villages. They saw that everything was destroyed and there is no life there. Therefore, their return will not create a problem for the Armenians who occupied their houses, just as they did elsewhere, let us say Karabakh. Their return there does not mean the expulsion of the Armenians living there. Those villages are abandoned, and we will use all the opportunities available. Just as the Karabakh issue once united the entire Azerbaijani people and we achieved our wishes, we should apply the same approach here. Of course, there is a great need for media activities, both inside the country and abroad. I have also expressed my opinion about this. So, a comprehensive program is being prepared.
Let me add that all our programs are implemented in every area. We never come up with initiatives that cannot be realized. Therefore, work is already underway on a program in this domain. I am confident that we will achieve this and restore historical justice.
On January 10, 2023, his interview on local television channels, 10 January 2023
https://president.az/az/articles/view/58555
The decision of the Soviet government in November 1920 to separate West Zangezur, our historical land, from Azerbaijan and hand it over to Armenia led to the geographical separation of the Turkic world. By 1991, all Azerbaijanis were driven out forcefully of the territory of present-day Armenia. As in Karabakh and East Zangezur, Armenia has also destroyed our cultural heritage, mosques and historical sites in present-day Armenia – in Western Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani community has repeatedly appealed to UNESCO to send a fact-finding mission to monitor the Azerbaijani people’s cultural heritage in present-day Armenia and still awaits a positive response from UNESCO.
Our fellow compatriots who suffered from ethnic cleansing in Western Azerbaijan have now united in the Western Azerbaijan Community. They have set the goal of a peaceful return to their historical lands. According to the Concept of Return developed by the Western Azerbaijan Community, an international legally binding agreement with an appropriate verification and guarantee mechanism for the return of Azerbaijanis forcefully deported from the territory of present-day Armenia should be put in place.
The speech at the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State of Organization of Turkic States, 16 March 2023
https://president.az/az/articles/view/59195
If Armenia wants to talk about rights and securities of Armenians in Karabakh, then we want to talk about rights and securities of Azerbaijanis in Zangezur, in Goycha, and in Yerevan. But hopefully, we will come to a final stage, though it’s difficult to predict. I can predict only what solely depends on us. But with respect to negotiations, we are hopeful, but must be less optimistic, more realistic.
The speech at Shusha Global Media Forum, 21 July 2023
https://president.az/az/articles/view/60544
My message to Armenians in Armenia is that we want to have peace with their state, we don’t have territorial claims to Armenia though hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis lived in Armenia before the war were totally ethnically cleansed, and their cultural and religious heritage was totally destroyed. Nevertheless, we don’t have any territorial claims. We think that Azerbaijanis, who were deported forcefully from Armenia, have a right to return when Azerbaijan and Armenia will normalize their relations and establish diplomatic relations.
The interview with "Euronews" television, 2 August 2023
https://president.az/az/articles/view/60723
We've been subjected to ethnic cleansing, occupation, and destruction of territories for 30 years. A million of Azerbaijanis were deprived of their homes, including more than 200 thousand from today's territory of Armenia.
The speech at the 2nd Azerbaijan National Urban Forum in Zangilan, 29 September 2023
https://president.az/az/articles/view/61532
Our approach was that we cannot specify on that, and the agreement between two countries must be fully reciprocal. Therefore, if they want to reflect in their draft agreement issue of Armenians, who live in Azerbaijan as national minorities, then it must also reciprocally reflect the rights of Azerbaijanis, who were deported forcefully from Armenia, to come back there, and to live there. Their rights and security must be protected the same way like rights and security of Armenians in Karabakh. Unfortunately, the Armenian side always rejected that, which was not very logical, because we did not offer something extraordinary, just reciprocal.
The speech Forum titled "Karabakh: Back Home After 30 Years. Accomplishments and Challenges", 06 December 2023,
https://president.az/az/articles/view/62400
If they want to reflect the issue of Armenian minority in Azerbaijan, then, let us reflect the issue of Azerbaijani minority in Armenia, which was expelled thirty years ago. And, there were much more Azerbaijanis in Armenia than Armenians in Azerbaijan - almost 300,000. So, our position was that it must be reciprocal. Either we reflect these two issues of national minorities, their rights and security, including the right to return not only Armenians to return to Azerbaijan, but Azerbaijanis to return to Armenia. It doesn't matter that Azerbaijanis were expelled 30 years ago, and Armenians decided to leave two months ago. The fact is just it must be reciprocal, or we do not comment in our peace agreement about this issue.
If an Azerbaijani refugee, who was expelled from Armenia wants to come back there, how he will come back? He will not come back and say I'm here resident of Western Azerbaijan Republic. No. He will come and apply for citizenship or work permit. Why should it be different here? And that's how it will work only. Through municipal elections, they can elect their representatives, which will be in charge of municipalities. All this information was delivered to Armenian representatives of Karabakh just after the anti-terror operation, and then when we realized that they did not make it public to the population of Karabakh, we made it public, we published it.
His interview by Euronews channel, 09 December 2023,
https://president.az/az/articles/view/62438
It is no secret that in the 20th century the lands of Azerbaijan were given to Armenia in parts. One day after the establishment of the Azerbaijan People’s Republic in 1918, unfortunately, the city of Irevan was handed over to Armenia. However, there was no reason for that. This is an ancient city of Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani people lived there for centuries, and the history of Irevan, i.e. the historical appearance that is being erased today confirms the existence of Azerbaijani architectural monuments, their centuries-old existence. Irevan is one of the cities that seem not to have an old city. But it was actually an Azerbaijani city, which was demolished and destroyed. As for that decision, I think, and everyone will probably agree with me, that it was a grave historical crime – not a mistake but a crime. First, the Azerbaijanis living in Irevan at the time were not even asked. Second, what was the rush? Were they in a hurry? The republic was declared on May 28 and Irevan was handed over to Armenia on May 29. And the explanation of that defies any logic – in exchange for that, Armenia would give up its territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Did it? No, it got even worse. The protests by representatives of Irevan on the government of the Azerbaijan People’s Republic at the time were not taken into account. So, it was a huge historical crime, and it was only a beginning. After the Sovietization in April 1920, in November, the Soviet government took the bigger part of West Zangezur from Azerbaijan and handed it over to Armenia. This is also a historical fact, there are maps, there are maps of the early 20th century. There is a map of the Azerbaijan People's Republic and there is Zangezur on it - not eastern or western, all of Zangezur was the territory of Azerbaijan, and this happened during the Soviet era. Such gifts of land continued over the years. The last such gift of land was made in May 1969. By then, our lands were given to Armenia in parts, and from an area of about 100,000 square kilometers – I am talking about the territory of the Azerbaijan People’s Republic – it dropped to 86,600 square kilometers. After Heydar Aliyev became the leader of Azerbaijan in July 1969, these land gifts and this process was stopped. Until then, it was given away in parts.
Interview with local TV channels, 10.01.2024
https://president.az/az/articles/view/63017
- Dear friends, it is a very significant day in our city today. I can even say that it is a very significant day for the country. We are unveiling the statue of Ashiq Alasgar, a prominent representative of Azerbaijan’s ashiq art, in the center of Baku. I would like to sincerely congratulate you and all the people of Azerbaijan on this occasion. This is a truly wonderful event.
As you may know, I signed two decrees three years ago to perpetuate the name of Ashiq Alasgar. On the basis of the first decree, the 200th anniversary of the birth of Ashiq Alasgar was celebrated at a state level. The second decree envisaged the establishment of a statue of Ashiq Alasgar. Today, in this beautiful place of Baku, actually in the center of our city, in a beautiful park, we are unveiling the statue of Ashiq Alasgar.
As you may be aware, Ashiq Alasgar lived all his life and worked in Goycha district, the ancient land of Azerbaijan, lived a long life there but was forced to leave his native land in the last years of his life. He was 97 years old at the time. In 1918, Armenian savages subjected Azerbaijanis to ethnic cleansing. This was the first deportation of Azerbaijanis from their ancient land in Western Azerbaijan in the 20th century. Unfortunately, our people were subjected to two more waves of deportation after that. Ashiq Alasgar moved to the neighboring Kalbajar district together with his family. However, his native land never stopped attracting him to Goycha district, although in terms of climate, nature and beauty Kalbajar and Goycha districts are not very dissimilar. But his love of the Motherland and his native land was so strong that despite all the dangers involved, he returned to his native village of Agkilsa in about three years and died there a few years later.
We all know very well that the 150th anniversary of Ashiq Alasgar’s birth was celebrated on the Soviet Union-wide scale on the initiative of the National Leader in the 1970s and his statue was erected in his native Agkilsa village on the occasion of his jubilee. When our people were subjected to the third wave of deportation, Armenian vandals destroyed that statue. We are seeing that today. In Karabakh and East Zangezur, our historical sites, monuments to prominent personalities, mosques, palaces and cemeteries were destroyed by Armenian vandals. This practice is not new, this injustice, this brutality has been committed against us in front of the whole world for centuries.
Today, those attending this event will talk about the activities and creative activities of Ashiq Alasgar. I simply want to say that his works have left an indelible mark in the hearts of the Azerbaijani people and that even 200 years on he still remains in the memory of our people as an outstanding personality, a patriot, a person who loved his people and homeland. Of course, we see the high spirit of our people in his example. Because, let me say this again, he was forced to leave his land at the age of 97 but returned there at the age of 100, despite all the dangers - those dangers had not completely subsided yet at the time.
As I mentioned, our nation was subjected to three waves of deportations in the 20th century – first in 1918, second in the 1940-50s and third in the late 1980s and early 1990s. After a certain period of time, after the two deportations, the Azerbaijani people returned to their ancestral lands, not all of them but a large part of them did. This makes us legitimately confident that the Western Azerbaijanis who were subjected to the third wave of ethnic cleansing will also return to their ancestral lands. There are many reasons for this. Of course, the love of the Motherland, those lands have not been and will not be forgotten. The next generations of Western Azerbaijanis who have not seen those lands are living with a dream for the Motherland.
Today, we are seeing the indomitable spirit of the Azerbaijani people in the example of our compatriots returning to Karabakh and East Zangezur. Our compatriots from Karabakh and East Zangezur, who had not seen those lands before, are eagerly and impatiently waiting for the day of their return. They are looking forward to the implementation of the Great Return program. In fact, this program is already underway. The people of Karabakh who had never lived in those lands but lived with the dream of returning to those lands are now returning to Karabakh. I am sure that we will see the same during the period of return to Western Azerbaijan. Because our kids, our schoolchildren are going to school in Shusha, Lachin, Khankendi, Khojaly, Fuzuli today. September 15, the first day of school, showed that. It was a truly festive and holiday atmosphere in all these regions and throughout Azerbaijan. I am sure that our compatriots from Western Azerbaijan will experience the same feelings. Everything is in our hands. During the occupation of Karabakh, each of us sometimes experienced feelings of disappointment and mistrust. It seemed to us that this injustice, which hurt everybody’s heart, would last forever. But we always kept those thoughts away, we lived with faith, and we also knew that it should be our job to restore justice, that no one would restore this justice for us, no one had such an intention or desire.
I already said several times in numerous meetings with foreign representatives during the years of occupation. I heard opinions that we had to come to terms with this reality, Karabakh was already lost, we needed to make peace with Armenia, we needed to prepare the young generation for peace, there was no military solution to this conflict and other ideas. In some cases, those voicing such opinions were probably sincere, but sometimes they did this in order to divert us from our path, to instill pessimism in us. Life and reality have shown that everything is in our own hands. The Second Karabakh War, the anti-terror operation and the subsequent period, i.e. the past year have shown that where there is a strong will, where there is a unity of people and government and where there is an unbending spirit of the people, no force or organization can stand against this will. The liberation of Karabakh and East Zangezur, the complete restoration of our sovereignty – and I know this – have further increased this optimism, these ideas and hopes among Western Azerbaijanis. Even during the occupation, about 10 years ago, perhaps even before that, in some of my speeches I voiced my thoughts about Western Azerbaijan. We should always set goals. These goals are strategic and tactical, short- and long-term. But if the goals are not identified correctly, it will not be possible to achieve any results. Goals should reflect the truth and justice, as well as the real situation and our real power. The stronger we are, the higher the chances that our voice will be heard. Today, during the year following the anti-terror operation, we are seeing that. In fact, during the first weeks and months, many baseless accusations were made against us, sanctions were imposed on us. In order to impose even greater sanctions on us, the superpowers, at least those who consider themselves as such, openly attacked us on various international platforms, unleashed a cold war on us. This continues to this day. On the eve of the anniversary of the anti-terror operation, we faced such a large-scale smear and slander campaign again. Can it affect our resolve? Never! Because ours is the cause of justice and our work enjoys the support of the people of Azerbaijan. In fact, this is the work of the Azerbaijani people. The liberation of Karabakh and East Zangezur, the complete restoration of sovereignty were possible thanks to the will of the Azerbaijani people, the heroism and valor of our heroic children.
We marked Remembrance Day three days ago. Once again, we pray for Allah’s mercy for all our martyrs, their heroism will never be forgotten. But along with the sad day of September 27, two holidays were added to our calendar – November 8 and September 20. These are Victory holidays. This Victory will live with us forever.
The establishment of a statue of the outstanding representative of Western Azerbaijan today is, first of all, a sign of respect of the Azerbaijani people for the memory of Ashiq Alasgar. At the same time, this statue is a symbol that invites all Western Azerbaijanis and indeed all the people of Azerbaijan to unite for one cause. We are looking forward to that day, we believe, I believe and you believe in that too. The day will come when we will restore the statue of Ashiq Alasgar destroyed by Armenians and hold a similar ceremony in Agkilsa village.
President Ilham Aliyev attended the unveiling of Ashig Alasgar's statue in Baku, 30.09.2024
The Azerbaijani community, consisting of about 300,000 people who were natives of Armenia and deported in the late 1980s and early 1990s, has officially applied to the Armenian leadership, requesting conditions for their return and reintegration.
“Because the fact that they were deported from there in the early 1990s does not mean that they have no right to return. Therefore, we are still waiting for a response from the Armenian leadership on how they envision the reintegration of Azerbaijanis into their historical lands.
