Armenians Can Live with Us in Nagorno-Karabakh as Citizens of Our Country: Azerbaijani Official

Bakú does not rule out the possibility for Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh to return to their homes, which have become part of Azerbaijan under a tripartite agreement. This was stated by Rovshan Rzaev, chairman of the Azerbaijani Commission on Displaced Persons, in an interview with 'Izvestia'. He emphasized that there can be no discussion about the return of territories.

'Our country has repeatedly confirmed at the highest level its readiness to integrate the former population of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) within the territory of Azerbaijan. However, the right to reside in the area should not be equated with the right to alienate territories. Therefore, in response to your question, yes, they (Armenians) can live with us in Azerbaijan as citizens of our country, just as they did before the conflict,' the official noted.

In response to the question of whether there are security guarantees for Armenians wishing to return, Rovshan Rzaev emphasized that the state, its constitution, and laws are the guarantors for all people living in Azerbaijan. 'And the guarantor of all this is our country’s president, Ilham Aliyev.'