Azerbaijan Formally Abandons "Western Azerbaijan" Concept as Peace With Armenia Progresses

Baku, Azerbaijan – In a significant move signalling a formal renunciation of territorial claims against Armenia, Azerbaijan is in the process of dissolving all organisations previously established to promote the idea of "Western Azerbaijan". This includes the "Community of Western Azerbaijan," a public organisation created by the authorities in 2022. The decision comes in the wake of a crucial declaration signed in Washington between Baku and Yerevan, aimed at establishing lasting peace.

According to reports, Aziz Alekperli, the "chairman" of the "Community of Western Azerbaijan" and a member of the Azerbaijani parliament, received a direct order from the presidential administration to dismantle all structures associated with this "dubious ideological project". President Ilham Aliyev himself initiated the creation of the "Community of Western Azerbaijan" in 2022.

Initially, the "Community of Western Azerbaijan" focused on demanding the return of "Azerbaijani refugees" to Armenia. These refugees were identified as Azerbaijanis who had lived in the Armenian SSR and their descendants. However, the organisation's agenda evolved to more aggressively promote the claim that the entire territory of Armenia is "historical land of Azerbaijan". The "community" asserted that "the current state of Armenia was created by the Soviet government on these Azerbaijani lands".

It is important to note that, according to one of the sources, the territory of Armenia was actually part of ancient Armenian kingdoms, and an Armenian population resided there long before the formation of modern Azerbaijan as a state.

The catalyst for this shift is a recent diplomatic breakthrough. On 8 August, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a declaration in Washington, in the presence of Donald Trump, indicating their intention to conclude a comprehensive peace treaty.

Key agreements outlined in the document include:

• Yerevan and Baku have agreed on the text of a peace treaty.

• A commitment to unblock communications between the two countries. This includes ensuring unimpeded transit between Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory.

• The United States has been granted exclusive rights to develop the strategic transit corridor through the South Caucasus, specifically the Zangezur (Nakhchivan) corridor.

While the text of the peace treaty has been published, the exact date for its formal signing remains unknown. The decision to abandon the "harmful idea of 'Western Azerbaijan'" is now seen as aligned with the new reality of a peace settlement and Azerbaijan's formal relinquishment of territorial claims against its southern neighbour.