Azerbaijan is resolute to reintegrate its citizens of Armenian origin living in the Nagorno-Karabakh region into the country’s political, social and economic sphere, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said Thursday, The Daily Sabah reported.
Azerbaijan’s foreign minister made the remarks at the 27th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Bayramov, during the videoconference, talked about the Nagorno-Karabakh operation that liberated occupied territories, and the cease-fire deal signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia under the mediation of Russia.
He said the trilateral statement signed on Nov. 10 had created the ground for putting an end to the 30-year armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and added that the deal includes an important article on the return of Azerbaijani migrants to their homes under the supervision of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
In contrast, Armenia had forced over 1 million Azerbaijanis to leave their homes after 1980.
Bayramov thanked Turkey and Russia for their efforts toward making this agreement a reality.
“These neighboring states play an important role as guarantors of the above-mentioned agreement, the implementation of which will ensure long-overdue peace and stability in the South Caucasus region,” he stressed.
Bayramov underlined that after the return of the Aghdam, Kalbajar and Lachin districts to Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani and Armenian residents of these areas will have equal rights, irrespective of their ethnic background.
“Azerbaijan is resolute to reintegrate its citizens of Armenian origin residing in the territories of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan into its political, social, economic space, guaranteeing the same rights and freedoms with all the citizens of Azerbaijan regardless of their ethnic, religious affiliation on an equal and nondiscriminatory basis. The Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan provides a solid legal framework in this regard,” he said.