On 4 June 2026, the 1st International Conference titled “Return to Western Azerbaijan: A New Stage of the National Idea,” jointly organized by Baku State University and the Western Azerbaijan Community, opened in Baku. Among the speakers was Shamil Ayrim, a member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and Chairman of the Azerbaijan-Turkey Interparliamentary Friendship Group (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtVTEsCx4mw).

Ayrim’s speech represents another example of the political promotion of the “Western Azerbaijan” narrative, in which historical, cultural, and humanitarian themes are intertwined with territorial claims. Although expressions such as “peace,” “human rights,” “dignified return,” and “reconciliation” are repeatedly used in the speech, its overall argument is constructed around the idea that a significant part of the present-day territory of the Republic of Armenia should be regarded as so-called “Western Azerbaijan,” while the discourse on the right of return is transformed into a political project.

Ayrim argues that the demand for a return to “Western Azerbaijan” is an important prerequisite for peace and is not directed against Armenia. Such a formulation, however, is contradictory when it involves advancing a political demand for the mass return of a population to the territory of a sovereign state. The expression “restoration of historical justice” is repeatedly invoked throughout the speech, and although the issue is framed as one of human rights, there is no reference to the forced displacement of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The central ideological element of the speech is the “Concept of Return,” which is presented as a human-rights-based initiative. However, the terminology surrounding it — including references to “historical lands,” “historical justice,” “return to the homeland,” and the “restoration of the memory of Yerevan” — suggests that the discourse goes beyond the framework of human rights. Taken together, these concepts construct a narrative of historical claims that may be interpreted as asserting claims over the territory of the Republic of Armenia.

Overall, both the organization of the conference itself and Shamil Ayrim’s statements represent an attempt to internationally legitimize the idea of “Western Azerbaijan.” They are based on a selective presentation of historical events in which the losses and experiences of only one side are emphasized, while those of the other side remain outside the discussion (https://azertag.az/xeber/qerbi_azerbaycana_qayidis_telebi_qarsidurma_deyil_edalet_chagirisidir___samil_ayrim-4238347; https://azertag.az/xeber/samil_ayrim_qerbi_azerbaycan_meselesi_yuz_minlerle_insanin_dogma_yurduna_qayidis_haqqidir-4238327).