There is no Lake Sevan, there is Lake Goycha: Aliyev

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, speaking at a session dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the founding of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, made statements directed at Armenia's territorial integrity.

Aliyev claimed that "in recent years, the Armenian side and the diaspora have distorted the history of Azerbaijan." He called on Azerbaijani scholars to "stand against this propaganda." He also stated that there is no Lake Sevan, there is Lake Goycha.

“Azerbaijanis have never suffered from the disease of separatism and have always contributed to the development of the statehood of the countries they lived in. Therefore, the return of Azerbaijanis to their historical lands on the territory of present-day Armenia should not frighten the Armenian people. We must return there not with tanks, but with cars,” said Aliyev.

He also noted the need to expand the study of “historical maps,” asserting that “the place names of present-day Armenia have Azerbaijani origins according to ancient Russian imperial maps.” Aliyev added that this study of historical maps “should become a priority direction for state and scientific institutions,” as, according to him, “they prove historical reality.”