(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Rena Murshud read more A few days ago, our neighbors, Armenians made statements or
rather condemned Azerbaijan for the fact that one of the local TV
channels presented the territory of present-day Armenia as the
territory of Azerbaijan. They also stated that the capital Yerevan
and Sevan Lake (Goycha) were shown without toponyms in the heading
"Weather Forecast" on Azerbaijani TV.
Now, let's express our attitude regarding this issue that
bothers Armenians. The question is, which nation lived around
Goycha Lake about 100 years ago? Who were the former residents of
the current capital Iravan? Who were the original inhabitants of
Basarkechar, Vedibasar, Karki and Western Zangazur? Of course, you
will deny again and preach your lies to the world again.
Regarding the discussed issue, political analyst, head of the
Middle East Think Tank Sadraddin Soltan brought some examples from
historical facts while making a comment to Azernews.
"I think the Armenians should once again be reminded of the
short history of their country in the South Caucasus," S.
Soltan said, adding that when Azerbaijan existed in these
territories hundreds of years ago, the word Armenian did not even
exist at that time.
"Although there was a geographical area called Azerbaijan in the
Near and Middle East, neither Iran nor Armenia were ever
discovered. Even if "Hai" and "Armani" people existed, according to
research, they had no connection with modern Armenia. In other
words, this means that neither a state nor an empire called Armenia
existed in the South Caucasus region. The historical territory of
Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus, as indicated in all historical
sources of the country, began from the Caucasus Mountains to the
Elbrus Mountains in Iran. This geography is called Azerbaijan.
Historically, in this geography, there were a number of states
founded by the Azerbaijani Turks: Safavids, Qajars, Aghgoyunlu,
Garagoyunlu, and others."
Speaking about specific facts about Armenia, the expert said
that, it existed in history for not more than 100 years. The
nationality of this republic was created only in 1918 and 1920.
During the war between the Crown Prince of Shah Qajar, Abbas Mirza,
and the Russian Tsar, Armenians began migrating to the region.
According to the Gulustan and Turkmenchay treaties, at the request
of tsarist Russia, the Armenians moved from the territory of Iran
to Azerbaijan: Ganja, Shamakhi, and Baku.
According to the expert, with the help of the Soviet empire, the
Armenians expelled the Azerbaijanis from that area, because at that
time there was neither a state nor the world community that would
protect Azerbaijan. For this reason, the Soviet regime did what it
wanted. Over the past 70 years, about 1 million Azerbaijanis have
migrated from Western Azerbaijan. In 1948, about 450 thousand, and
in 1988 more than 250-300 thousand Azerbaijanis were displaced from
their ancestral lands.
"The first step of the Armenians was to change the name of the
local territories belonging to Azerbaijan. They named Basarkechar as Vardenis , Goycha as
Sevan , and Irevan as Yerevan . This was
not just an action specific to Armenians, but a step taken by many
occupying countries. Iran also applied the same step against us.
The names of the territories belonging to Azerbaijan are
Persianized. With this ideology, Armenians want to create an
opinion in the world that there are no toponyms in Turkish in the
territory of present-day Armenia, and Turks did not live in these
territories either. We faced the same situation during the 30-year
occupation. While some territories of Azerbaijan were under
occupation, Armenians changed most of their names," the expert
said.
Touching on the current situation in Azerbaijan, the S. Soltan
said that Azerbaijan as a state is restoring its Western
Azerbaijani roots forcibly deprived of citizenship. Western
Azerbaijanis are considered citizens of Armenia. Because they were
forcibly deprived of their citizenship. According to international
law, no right can deprive a person of citizenship against his will.
However, Western Azerbaijanis of Turkish origin faced this
oppression.
"The foreign policy of Azerbaijan touches the right point in the
normalization of processes with Armenia. It constitutionally
ensures the security of the Armenians living in Garabagh and their
residence in these territories. At the same time, Western
Azerbaijanis also regained their lost civic spirit. This is called
repatriation. This is the restoration of the changed names of the
territories where Western Azerbaijanis live. At present, the
Azerbaijani side has presented to the other side the option of
restoring the territories (Gafan, Zangazur) that existed before the
formation of the USSR in 1920, in order to identify documents," the
political analyst opined.
Sadraddin Soltan also condemned the opening of consulate offices
in Gafan by Iran and Russia. Because it is a violation of
international law. Since the issue of delimitation and demarcation
between Azerbaijan and Armenia has not yet been resolved, opening
of the diplomatic office was hastily realised.
"During the period of the Iravan Khanate, it was allowed to
create a state called Armenia. The remaining territories were
reserved for discussion with the Republic of Azerbaijan. The total
area of Azerbaijan consisted of 120 thousand square kilometers.
After the processes calmed down, 100,000 square kilometers were
declared by the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the remaining areas
were left for discussion as conflict zones. During that period, the
Irevan Khanate was transferred to the territories where there is a
state called Armenia," the political analyst emphasized.
And at the end, the expert, explaining the behavior of
Azerbaijan, said that Azerbaijan wants to convey this truth to the
public through television and the media. That is, if in any books,
films or weather forecasts the current cities of Armenia are
indicated as Azerbaijani names or the territory of Azerbaijan, then
this is not a provocation, but a historical truth that Armenians do
not want to accept. Because Azerbaijan is acting on the basis of
historical facts.
"There are no territorial claims against Armenia because there
was no country called Armenia at all. This is the so-called
Armenian state, which created its own country on the lands snatched
from Azerbaijan. Armenians want to carry out the same policy in
Garabagh. In general, Armenia does not have the authority to create
a so-called state in the South Caucasus, in Azerbaijan, or within
the country - in Garabagh, neither from the viewpoint of
international law nor state law," the expert cocluded.