Ilham Aliyev: Armenia must respect the right of Azerbaijanis to return to their ancestral lands

Armenia must respect the right of Azerbaijanis to return to their ancestral lands. This is a necessary condition for establishing peace, reconciliation, and observance of human rights in the region.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to AZERTAJ, this is stated in the address of President Ilham Aliyev to the participants of the International Symposium of Ombudsmen on the topic "Strengthening the Rule of Law: The Role of Ombudsmen and National Human Rights Institutions".

"One of the topics that will be discussed at the symposium is related to the rights of refugees. In this area, special attention is required to the issue of the forced expulsion since the beginning of the last century from Western Azerbaijan - the territory of Armenia of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis who were subjected to ethnic cleansing. After those terrible deportations, not a single Azerbaijani remained on the territory of Armenia, and the ancient historical, cultural, and religious-spiritual heritage of our people in these territories, including monuments, mosques, and cemeteries, was destroyed. Historical justice requires ensuring the peaceful and safe return of these people to their native lands," the address notes.