Due to Azerbaijani Authorities' Hatred, Almost No Armenians Remain in Baku: Statement by Deputy Foreign Minister

On December 14, within the framework of the Global Refugee Forum, Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan delivered a speech, which is presented below:

“I welcome the excellent organization of the Global Forum on Refugee Issues. It takes place in a crisis situation marked by conflicts worldwide, leading to a sharp increase in the number of forcibly displaced persons.

Unfortunately, the South Caucasus has not been spared from such tragic developments. As a result of the use of force by Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh has undergone ethnic cleansing. Over 105,000 Armenians have been forcibly displaced from their ancestral lands within a few days. Additionally, 26,000 Armenians had already been displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh due to the devastating war in 2020. It is important to note that the International Court of Justice recently mandated Azerbaijan to “ensure that persons who have left Nagorno-Karabakh and wish to return can do so safely, without hindrance, and promptly.” Armenia welcomes this decision and fully supports the implementation of this legally binding ruling.

Currently, there are no appropriate conditions to guarantee the safety and rights of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, and Armenia continues to take all necessary steps to address the needs of refugees.

Armenia is committed to taking concrete actions to ensure housing accessibility for Karabakh Armenians, promote equal access to economic opportunities, protect the right to education and integrate refugee children into the Armenian educational system, and ensure the provision of essential health services and medication for all refugees.

This level of humanitarian crisis demands a comprehensive international response. To this end, in October, the Armenian government, in close cooperation with UNHCR, launched a Refugee Needs Response Program, bringing together 60 partners worldwide. In this regard, we once again call for international support.

I would like to add that since 2020, the Armenian government has provided “housing purchase certificates” to refugees forcibly displaced by violence in Baku, Sumgait, and Ganja. Approximately 360,000 of them were forcibly displaced from Azerbaijan in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Moreover, due to systemic violence, Armenians have been forced to leave Nakhichevan and other areas of Azerbaijan. All rights of these refugees must also be protected.

In this context, it is important to note that according to the last census of the Soviet Union, around 500,000 Armenians lived in Soviet Azerbaijan. Today, due to violence, the use of force, hatred, and intolerance by Azerbaijani authorities, almost no Armenians remain in Azerbaijan.

Recalling the call of the High Commissioner to refrain from politicizing the humanitarian platform, I want to draw attention to certain promises made by the Azerbaijani delegation. Since its independence, the Republic of Azerbaijan has never made such demands and is currently distorting history to justify its territorial ambitions against the Republic of Armenia. This must be unequivocally rejected by the international community.”