PACE MP: Armenia- next target of expansion by Turkic world

ArmInfo. The recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan by the Armenian authorities in 2022 did not bring peace to the region. On the contrary, it pushed Azerbaijan to make new territorial claims, as stated by Armen Gevorgyan, a member of the Armenian parliament from the opposition faction "Armenia", during the discussion of the "Progress Report" at the summer session of PACE. 


"Today, Azerbaijan is aggressively promoting the concept of the so-called "Western Azerbaijan". This is not a humanitarian initiative, but a geopolitical plan aimed at further annexation of Armenian territories under the pretext of "Azerbaijani repatriation". This is not a human rights issue. This is an attempt to undermine Armenia's sovereignty through a carefully thought-out strategy of hybrid pressure, including demographic manipulation, historical reinterpretation and infrastructural demands. This is an expansionist project disguised as a humanitarian language,  aiming to create ideological and legal grounds for demographic transformation and further control over Armenian regions. The Turkic world has already demonstrated examples of such ethno-political annexation in Northern Cyprus and parts of Northern Syria.  Armenia may become the next target," the MP emphasized. 


He also stated that these days the growing military tensions between Iran and Israel can be used by the Turkish coalition to establish control over the southern regions of Armenia. Gevorgyan added that in addition to the threat of military aggression, the so-called "migration scenario" is becoming increasingly realistic, which implies a demographic influx into southern Armenia under the guise of so-called ethnic Turkic refugees.


"Armenia's sovereignty can be undermined not by war, but by deliberate policy. We must recognize the change in tactics. However, the goal is the same: to limit Armenia's ability to exist as a sovereign, self- determining state and resolve the "Armenian question," " he noted.


Touching upon possible actions by Europe, Gevorgyan noted that, first of all, they should not legitimize the dictatorial regime of Ilham Aliyev. He added that it is not only about Azerbaijani gas, oil or billions of euros of investment. "Europe is directly involved in strengthening this regime, for example by actively supporting the COP29 conference in Baku, even after the ethnic cleansing of Armenians and fraudulent "presidential" and "parliamentary" elections.

Even more alarming is the recent announcement that the 2028 European Political Community summit is to be held in Baku. There is a serious possibility that Azerbaijan will then try to fully implement its "Western Azerbaijan" program and use the next European summit to legitimize the results," the politician believes.  In conclusion, addressing those present, he called for stopping the practice of turning a blind eye to contradictory narratives that threaten regional stability and peace. "We should also be concerned about the fact that today, the modern history of democracy's capitulation to authoritarianism is already being written," the MP concluded.