Ambassador Amirbayov (Azerbaijan), “let the day come when Armenians and Azerbaijanis can live together as good neighbors”

Appeals for lasting peace in the Southern Caucasus, with particular reference to the “serious” humanitarian situation of the displaced from the former Nagorno Karabakh and the protection of monasteries and places of worship in the region. It is Pope Francis who launches them constantly and periodically. SIR asked the ambassador Elchin Amirbayovpresidential representative with special duties and first ambassador of Azerbaijan to the Holy See (2005 – 2017), visiting the Vatican these days, to respond to the Pope’s words.

The Pope asks that the talks can foster “a lasting agreement” that can above all put an end to the humanitarian crisis. At what stage is the dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia? What necessary steps to take?
First, we greatly appreciate the attention paid by His Holiness Pope Francis to achieving peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The dialogue between Baku and Yerevan continues in various forms and in a positive spirit. It should be remembered that it was Azerbaijan that initiated the peace negotiations and the draft peace agreement almost two years ago, and important progress has been made since then. The latest positive developments were possible after last September, Azerbaijan fully restored its sovereignty and integrity by regaining effective control over its Garabagh region. We are confident today that we can achieve, together with Armenia, all our remaining goals through political means and in a relatively short period of time. Two weeks ago, Armenia agreed to withdraw its forces from the remaining four occupied Azerbaijani villages in the northwestern region of Gazakh and soon after we began the bilateral process of delimitation and demarcation of what will become the state border between our two countries. In parallel, Azerbaijan resolutely continues its large-scale efforts for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of all its territories that have been devastated by a three-decade-long illegal conflict and occupation.

In the Angelus of 15 October 2023, the Pope expressed the hope that the authorities and inhabitants of that Region could “be respected and protected as part of the local culture, expressions of faith and a sign of a brotherhood that enables us to live together in differences” . At this point, how can we encourage this process of returning to our homes?
I would like to start by clarifying that the decision to leave the territory of the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan to Armenia was a decision that all those who left made themselves, despite numerous appeals from the Azerbaijani authorities to stay. Despite the disinformation campaign launched by Armenia against us immediately after the day-long anti-terrorism operation, Azerbaijan had advised the local civilian population not to leave and rather integrate peacefully into our society. Many of those who left were actually “strongly encouraged” to do so by the leaders of local illegal separatists, who opposed the peaceful coexistence of Armenians and Azerbaijanis in that region of Azerbaijan. As the Azerbaijani authorities have repeatedly stated on previous occasions, the right of all displaced populations to voluntarily return to their homes, regardless of whether they are of Armenian or Azerbaijani origin, should be respected on a reciprocal basis. Let us not forget that more than 250 thousand Azerbaijani civilians were subjected to ethnic cleansing in Armenia at the very beginning of the conflict in the late 1980s.

In the same Angelus, the Pope also made “a particular appeal in favor of the protection of the monasteries and places of worship in the region”. What is his government doing to protect Christian places of worship in that land?
All places of worship on the territory of Azerbaijan, regardless of their religious origin, constitute part of our rich cultural and religious heritage that reflects the multiethnic and multicultural nature of our society. And our government takes seriously the duty to protect every single religious site without any discrimination. Since the end of the Second Garabagh War in November 2020, the relevant authorities of Azerbaijan have carried out inventory of all cultural and religious monuments in the territories that were under illegal foreign occupation and were affected by the conflict. Those that survived two wars and were damaged are now being reconstructed, but unfortunately many of the cultural and religious monuments have been completely destroyed by the occupying forces. 65 of the 67 mosques in Garabagh and other previously occupied territories were razed.

Pope Francis, in a world strongly affected by conflicts and crises, is perhaps the only one who still keeps attention alive on this crisis. What do you think of the Pope’s “word” and above all what “role” can Christians play in those lands? Is there room for them?
As mentioned above, we in Azerbaijan highly appreciate the attention paid by Pope Francis but also by many other high-level dignitaries around the world to the issue of peace and normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is a secular country proud of its cultural and religious diversity, where for centuries Muslims, Christians, Jews and representatives of other faiths have lived in harmony and friendship alongside each other. We firmly believe that the peace treaty that can hopefully be concluded between our countries soon will not only formally end one of the world’s longest and most tragic ethnic conflicts, but will also help build trust between Armenians and Azerbaijanis and allow them to live together as good neighbors and, one day, hopefully, as friends.