BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 28.The right of Western Azerbaijanis to return to their former places of residence should be considered by relevant United Nations bodies and international mechanisms, according to Elgun Hajiyev, Head of the Communication and Data Analytics Department of the Baku Initiative Group.
Hajiyev made the remarks while addressing an international conference titled “The Right of Return and Decolonization: Restoration of Delayed Historical Justice” at the UN Headquarters in New York.
He said any return process should comply with applicable international law and human rights standards, including voluntariness, safety, dignity and non-discrimination.
Hajiyev also said that appropriate mechanisms should be established for restitution or compensation, alongside measures to protect cultural and religious heritage.
According to the Baku Initiative Group representative, the right to return is a fundamental human right. He argued that returning to one’s former homeland involves not only physical relocation but also issues related to identity, dignity, historical memory and cultural continuity.
Hajiyev further said that protecting cultural heritage and addressing unresolved rights through legal mechanisms, dialogue and confidence-building measures could contribute to reconciliation and long-term peace.
