Mirzoyan: The So-Called “Western Azerbaijan” Is a Threat to Armenia’s Territorial Integrity

YEREVAN — “The rhetoric surrounding ‘Western Azerbaijan’ has no place within the peace agenda, and we view the so-called ‘Western Azerbaijan’ concept as a direct threat to Armenia’s territorial integrity,” Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said during a televised election debate on June 2.

Mirzoyan, who is also a candidate representing the Civil Contract party, emphasized that unresolved issues still exist between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The foreign minister once again rejected claims that Armenia is preparing to settle 300,000 Azerbaijanis within its territory.

According to Mirzoyan, international organizations never recognized Azerbaijanis who left Soviet Armenia during the final years of the Soviet Union as refugees.

“When the issue of Armenians returning to Nagorno-Karabakh is raised, it opens the door for the other side to establish a reciprocal linkage,” Mirzoyan said.