Interview of Deputy Chairman of West Azerbaijan Community, MP Ramil Hasan to APA

- Mr. Ramil, first of all, I congratulate you on the approval of the Return to West Azerbaijan Concept.

Let's start our conversation right here: What does the Return Concept promise?

- Thank you very much.

I also congratulate each of us.

As you know, more than a month after Mr. President's historic speech at the opening ceremony of the building of the West Azerbaijan Community, we have been preparing the Return Concept based on joint discussions by addressing the experts and the Azerbaijani public regarding the preparation of the Return Concept and evaluating the proposals.

This concept, which legally includes all the procedures related to the return of Western Azerbaijanis to their ancestral lands in a safe form, consists of seven-directional goals.

One of the main goals in the development of the concept is to ensure international security.

As you know, Western Azerbaijanis were expelled from their homeland in 1905-1906, 1918-1923, 1948-1953 and finally in 1988-1991.

- What laws of international law are based on the concept of return?

- Provisions on the return of refugees contained in the International Refugee Convention, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on Human Rights adopted by the UN, as well as other such human rights and freedoms, free and independent living guarantee, as well as documents ensuring the return of refugees to their homes are based here.

- Mr. Ramil, certain problems may arise in connection with the coexistence of two peoples who have lived in hostile conditions for years - we are talking about Azerbaijanis and Armenians - this is clear.

What do you think about it?

- You are right.

True, we do not trust the Armenian government at the first stage.

From this point of view, since the community is the legal heir until the end of the process, during the return, and even after the return, the representative of our official, legal guarantee before the government of Armenia, international organizations, and at the same time, the government of our Motherland, which has opened its arms to us, and other structures. as, the West Azerbaijan Community will continue its activities.

That is, in case of any problem, the community will fulfill the mission of official and legal representation.

If we are going to be a part of the direct reintegration and rehabilitation in our historical ancestral lands, the Armenian government is responsible for implementing the obligations recognized by the UN and all UN member states, as well as the obligations it has undertaken regarding national minorities.

In order to understand and implement this responsibility, the West Azerbaijan Community has chosen the work plan as an official structure that protects the rights and protection of the West Azerbaijanis.

- It is clear.

The International Security mission is reflected in the concept.

In general, I want you to talk about this concept.

- Here it is envisaged that the mission consisting of international forces will be pre-deployed in the areas where the West Azerbaijanis will return and that the mission will continue to operate until the reintegration process is completed and the peoples will live in normal neighborly relations with each other.

In this process, we conduct constant consultations with the government of Azerbaijan and its relevant institutions, with the help and support of which the international security mission is formed, and at the same time, all the processes that may arise regarding the compensation of the material and moral damage caused by Armenia are brought before the international courts and requested from the government of Armenia. We will also ask Azerbaijan to address the issues raised by the West Azerbaijan Community as well as the government and state structure.

Because we always express our confidence in the support of the government of Azerbaijan in this matter.

I am sure that our return plan will include the normalization process.

I think that the Armenian side should realize its responsibility to ensure our return, as well as issues related to free education in the native language, expressing one's ideas and problems in the Azerbaijani language in judicial bodies and executive structures, should also be ensured by Armenia.

- Mr. Ramil, how many stages is planned for the return?

- It will consist of several stages.

The first of these stages is the presentation of the package of documents to the Azerbaijani community and the world community.

The second is to start solving other stages together with the Republic of Armenia and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

We want the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to be a mediator in the mentioned process.

Let me also say that the return will be carried out voluntarily, not compulsory.

Also, the registration of people has already started.

In the near future, we will implement an electronic system in this regard.

Because you know, this system will be convenient for those who are scattered in many countries of the world and whose roots are connected to the West Azerbaijanis and who are eager to return to their land.

In the next stage, it is planned to provide those people economically and socially.

At the same time, our main goal is to ensure their living in a compact way.

Previously, Azerbaijanis lived there in a compact form.

Ensuring that process is our main goal.

As you know, Azerbaijanis lived compactly in most villages in Western Azerbaijan.

There are very few villages where representatives of both nations lived together.

I also want to mention the security guarantee for our compatriots returning there.

We also demand from the Armenian government to repair or build their houses, build workplaces, and provide them with jobs.

That is, this is one of the provisions that will be implemented in a phased manner.

You know that the process of negotiations on signing a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia is underway.

Sometimes, due to the irresponsibility of the Armenian side, it is deadlocked and delayed, but Azerbaijan constantly emphasizes that it wants to achieve the return process peacefully.

We wish that the major peace agreement, which is expected to be signed in the near future, includes a relevant provision regarding the return of West Azerbaijanis to their homeland.