Ankara hosts international conference on return to Western Azerbaijan

An international conference on the theme “Return to Western Azerbaijan as an Essential Condition for the Supremacy of Human Rights” began in Ankara, Türkiye. The event was co-organized by the Western Azerbaijan Community and the "Azerbaijan-Türkiye House" Public Union, in partnership with the Baku International Multiculturalism Center, ADA University, and the Center of Analysis of International Relations.

The conference brought together more than 250 participants from Azerbaijan and Türkiye, including members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), representatives of state institutions, university rectors, scientists, and businessmen.

Adalat Valiyev, Head of the Department for Relations with Political Parties and Legislative Authority of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, read out President Ilham Aliyev’s address to the participants. He emphasized that holding such an event in Türkiye is of particular importance.

The event featured a film produced by Western Azerbaijan Television, which highlighted the realities of Western Azerbaijan, the activities of the Western Azerbaijan Community, and the vision for a dignified return of Western Azerbaijanis.

Efkan Ala, First Deputy Chairman of Türkiye’s Justice and Development Party and member of the Grand National Assembly, spoke about the historical significance of hosting the first conference on Western Azerbaijan in Türkiye.

The conference continued with panel discussions. Well-known historians İlber Ortaylı, Aygün Attar, Tufan Gündüz, Okan Yeşilot, and İbrahim Ethem Atnur delivered speeches during the sessions.

Following the discussions, participants adopted the conference’s final document.

The document stated that throughout the 20th century, Azerbaijanis living in Western Azerbaijan—present-day Armenia—faced systematic ethnic cleansing and were forcibly expelled from their native lands. As a result, hundreds of thousands became refugees, and their cultural heritage was destroyed.

The statement emphasized that the safe and dignified return of Western Azerbaijanis to their ancestral lands is essential—not only to correct historical injustice but also to promote stability and reconciliation in the South Caucasus.

The document called on Armenia to begin constructive dialogue with the Western Azerbaijani Community, to allow monitoring missions by UNESCO and other relevant organizations to safeguard and restore Azerbaijani cultural heritage, and to ensure the property rights of Western Azerbaijanis.

Participants praised President Ilham Aliyev’s leadership in promoting a peaceful return, his dedication to international law, and his efforts to restore justice. They also welcomed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s strong support for truth, justice, peace, and reconciliation.

The event concluded with a family photo.