“On February 10, 2025, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, published an article in the “Armenpress” news agency of that country, in which he voiced incorrect, unfounded, and harmful opinions regarding regional processes and the issue of Western Azerbaijan,” the Western Azerbaijan Community said in a statement.

“First of all, we would like to emphasize that the Western Azerbaijan Community supports the political processes aimed at establishing peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We believe that the establishment of peace between the two states and our cause - the return of Western Azerbaijanis to their homes - are two goals that complement each other. Recalling that the peace process began at the initiative of the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan after the Patriotic War of 2020, we commend Azerbaijan’s peace efforts.

At the same time, our Community is seriously concerned about the actions of the Armenian government that run counter to peace and human rights. Armenia’s large-scale armament program, the state-level policy of racism it pursues, and in this context its denial of the right of Western Azerbaijanis to return escalate tensions in the region.

Contrary to the Prime Minister’s claim, it must be noted that there is no military threat against Armenia. Taking this into account, as well as Armenia’s aggressive past, its inability to handle military force responsibly, its failure to acknowledge liability for the violations of law it committed against Azerbaijan or to express genuine remorse, and the prevalence of revanchist sentiments in its political circles and society, one can state with full confidence that this massive armament signals Armenia’s intent to launch an attack on Azerbaijan.

It is totally unacceptable for Prime Minister Pashinyan to present the issue of Western Azerbaijan as a military threat in his article. The Prime Minister’s remarks on this topic—particularly the claim that the Community’s fundamental documents allegedly contain territorial demands on 60 percent of Armenia’s territory—are groundless. While recalling that Azerbaijanis used to live throughout all regions of Armenia, including the capital city Yerevan, and at certain point constituted an ethnic majority there, we reiterate that the Western Azerbaijan Community is fighting for the return of Azerbaijanis who were forcibly expelled from Armenia, within the framework of international law, with respect for Armenia’s territorial integrity, peacefully, in safety and with dignity.

As the Western Azerbaijan Community, we demand that the Armenian government cease actions contradicting peace and human rights, halt its armament program, relinquish to the seller the heavy and modern offensive weapons it has acquired, and create conditions for the return of Western Azerbaijanis,” the Community added.