Ilham Aliyev considers the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) as citizens of Azerbaijan. The latter’s president stated about this speaking at the international conference, entitled "South Caucasus: Development and Cooperation," which is being held in the Azerbaijani-occupied Armenian city of Shushi, Artsakh.

“We accept Armenians living in Karabakh, as our citizens. We hope that they will soon understand that they have all the rights and security guarantees as citizens of Azerbaijan,” Aliyev said, APA reported. 

"Unlike Armenia, Azerbaijan is a country where many national minorities live," the Azerbaijani president added, claiming that all of them live in peace and tranquility in Azerbaijan. "Representatives of the Armenian people also lived in Azerbaijan, and they have never faced any problems. Therefore, Armenia must stop the propaganda of Azerbaijanophobia. Myths created by Armenia about us will never contribute to peace."

At the end of the last century, however, the Armenian population of Azerbaijan was deported from the country as a result of several waves of ethnic cleansing. And Nagorno-Karabakh declared its independence and won the war imposed on it by Azerbaijan.