INITIATIVE GROUP FOR RETURN OF WESTERN AZERBAIJANIS
Author: J.Shakhverdiyev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 18 2006
Azerbaijan’s Way movement has established an initiative group to
promote returning Western Azerbaijanis chased out by Armenians, to
their homelands and giving them a status of enclave. Trend reports
that on this occasion the aforesaid movement has arranged a press
conference on April 18.
Opening the conference, Ilgar Gasymov, leader of Azerbaijan’s Way,
said in 1948-53 and in 1988 over one million Azerbaijanis had been
exiled from Armenia. “In order to return them to their homelands, we
planned to arrange mass actions around the globe on April 24 – May 8.
These actions will be supported by Turkish and Jewish organizations
of the world. Preliminary agreement on the matter ha already been
concluded”.
Mr Gasymov said also a signature collection campaign is planned on this
matter. Upon the completion of the campaign and preparation of all
necessary documents, the materials will be submitted to Azerbaijan’s
representatives to PACE. The movement aims to raise this question
in PACE.
Speaking at the conference, deputy Fazil Gazanfaroglu called return of
Azerbaijanis exiled from Armenia the topic of the day. Mr Gazanfaroglu
said Milli Medjlis would include this issue in its day agenda.
Azerbaijan’s Way movement has also addressed the head of the state,
speaker and minister of exterior on the matter of returning exiled
Western Azerbaijanis to their homeland.