Aliyev Calls for Azerbaijanis to "Return" to Armenia

The President of Azerbaijan, speaking at a ceremony dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, once again put forward false theses and territorial aspirations regarding the territory and history of the Republic of Armenia, calling on Azerbaijanis to "return to their historical lands - present-day Armenia."

Aliyev stated that Azerbaijanis have allegedly never suffered from the "disease of separatism" and, on the contrary, contribute to the development of the statehood of the countries where they live. In this context, he tried to soften the aggressive nature of his ambitions, noting that his call should not frighten the Armenian people. "I have already said: we must return there not with tanks, but with cars," he declared, instructing state structures, public organizations, and scientists to work in this direction.

To put this policy on a "scientific" basis, Aliyev turned to Azerbaijani scientists, accusing the Armenian side and the diaspora of distorting history. He demanded to counter this with "scientific truths."

"Scientists have already done a lot of work on this topic, but more is needed: research, exhibitions, publications, historical maps. At the beginning of the 20th century, old Russian imperial maps clearly show that almost all toponyms in the territory of present-day Armenia have Azerbaijani origins. There is no Lake Sevan, but there is Lake Goycha," Aliyev stated.

Continuing the falsification of history, he added that these maps were allegedly compiled by Tsarist Russia, which "at the time moved Armenians from Iran and Eastern Anatolia to Karabakh to change the ethnic composition." According to him, these maps are "a reflection of historical truth," and they should be studied and disseminated.

We should recall that years ago, Aliyev found himself in a comical situation during an exhibition in Baku, searching for and failing to find a state named Azerbaijan on old maps.