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.