Baku: President Ilham Aliyev has accused Armenia of systematically destroying the rich material and intangible cultural heritage of Azerbaijanis residing in Western Azerbaijan. The president made these remarks during his address at the international conference on ‘Cultural Heritage and the Right of Return’ held in Baku.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Aliyev highlighted the historical grievances of the Azerbaijani people, emphasizing the repeated deprivations, deportations, and genocides they have faced over the past two centuries. He pointed out that following the relocation of Armenians to Azerbaijani ancestral lands, Azerbaijanis endured massacres and illegal resettlements during the periods of 1905-1907, 1918-1921, 1948-1953, and 1987-1991. These events led to hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis being forced to leave their homeland and seek refuge in Azerbaijan.
The president further elaborated on the forced deportation of Azerbaijanis from mountainous regions in Armenia to areas with a warmer climate. He noted the embezzlement of properties that Azerbaijanis had built over the years and the seizure and destruction of cultural artifacts. President Aliyev asserted that these are historical facts supported by reliable documents.
President Aliyev underscored the importance of addressing these issues within an international legal framework. He called for international community support to assess and address the alleged crimes against humanity committed by Armenia against Azerbaijanis.