I Propose That We Accept a Joint Roadmap with Azerbaijan to Close the Topics of 'Western Azerbaijan' and 'Return of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh'

"Azerbaijan on one hand says 'Western Azerbaijan,' and on the other hand refers to 'Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh.' In my address on August 18 following August 8, 2025, I stated that the topic of return is a very dangerous subject. This was mentioned by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a meeting with journalists in Hamburg, in response to Azerbaijan's statement that the phrase 'Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh following Azerbaijan's military operations' was included in the Armenia-EU strategic agenda document.

"And I want to now make an open, public proposal to Azerbaijan, because as much as they have issues with these topics, we also have problems. I propose that we adopt a joint roadmap aimed at parallelly closing these two topics. I have also told our people in Nagorno-Karabakh that their return is not realistic. If we continue with the return agenda, it means we are starting the Nagorno-Karabakh movement again, but I have said we should not continue the Nagorno-Karabakh movement. The movement has ended, and attempts to restart it are unhelpful.

But on the other hand, in Armenia, they see that Azerbaijan continuously uses the incomprehensible terminology of 'Western Azerbaijan.' Now we need to understand which is the cause and which is the effect. I am making a direct proposal, and I hope this proposal is translated so that it reaches its destination. I am saying, let’s sit down and develop a roadmap for how we can remove this topic, because removing this topic means strategically addressing any conflict situation in the long term. I have stated that the Republic of Armenia cannot have 'Western Azerbaijan,' and yes, if we have recognized each other's territorial integrity, that must be fully implemented,” said Nikol Pashinyan.