US Congress urged to support Western Azerbaijanis' right of return

Participants of the international conference titled "Right of Return and Self-Determination: Double Standards and Selective Approaches," held at the US Congress, have addressed an appeal to members of Congress.

Report informs that the appeal emphasized the importance of applying the norms and principles of international law impartially, consistently and without discrimination.

The authors of the document particularly called for ensuring the right of Western Azerbaijanis to return to their native lands in a safe, voluntary and dignified manner. The conference participants expressed their expectations that the international community would support the return of Western Azerbaijanis to their homeland, help restore their property rights and assist in protecting their cultural heritage.

The appeal noted that the right of return is one of the fundamental principles of international law and that ensuring this right must be carried out without selective approaches.

The document called on members of the US Congress to pay serious attention to the problems faced by Western Azerbaijanis and the facts presented regarding their right of return. Members of Congress were asked to organize hearings, briefings and consultations on the matter, promote direct dialogue with the relevant communities and support the consistent application of human rights principles.

The appeal also touched on the rights of the Sikh community, as well as the right to self-determination of the peoples of Aruba, Curaçao, self, Sint Eustatius and Saba. The conference participants stressed the importance of ensuring the right of these communities to protect their religious, cultural and linguistic identities and to freely express their views on their political and constitutional future.

They also called for an impartial and comprehensive investigation into allegations of discrimination, pressure, restrictions on fundamental freedoms and transnational repression against representatives of the Sikh community by the Indian government.

The conference participants asked that the issues raised in the appeal be discussed in the US Congress and called for stronger international support, particularly for ensuring the right of return of Western Azerbaijanis. They said they expected a response and support from members of Congress on these issues.

The international conference "Right of Return and Self-Determination: Double Standards and Selective Approaches" was held at the Capitol in Washington. Organized by the Baku Initiative Group, the conference was the first event of its kind held at the US Congress on the ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijanis by Armenia.