One of the latest developments that left its mark on the world’s agenda was Azerbaijan’s anti-terrorist operation in Karabakh, which was successfully completed in 24 hours. Azerbaijan, which gained control of the region after the operation, announced that Armenians who wanted to stay could be granted the right to citizenship and assured that their security would be ensured. Safe passage is provided to Armenians who want to leave the region. Many Armenians are leaving Karabakh in long queues with convoys of vehicles. Slava Sarkiçevic (74), who has been living in Khankendi for 40 years, while Armenians express their feelings and thoughts “Azerbaijanis have been very good to me. I want there to be no war and our people to live together. There are many people staying in Khankendi. They want to stay.” He added that he was ready to accept Azerbaijani citizenship.
ARMENIANS LEAVE BY BUS OR PRIVATE VEHICLES
The Armenian side, which had to sit at the table after the end of the anti-terrorism operation launched by Azerbaijan against the illegal Armenian armed groups in Karabakh, agreed to lay down its arms and withdraw its armed forces from Karabakh. After the operation, although the Azerbaijani administration stated that the rights and security of Armenians in Karabakh would be guaranteed, some Armenians left the region voluntarily. The Azerbaijani administration, on the other hand, created the necessary conditions for the safe passage of Armenians who wanted to leave Karabakh to Armenia. Armenians who voluntarily leave Karabakh pass to Armenia by buses and private vehicles.
“ALL MY FRIENDS WERE MUSLIM”
Stating that she has been living in Khankendi for 40 years, 74-year-old Slava Sarkiçevic said, “I have been on the road for 3 days. I want to return when everything gets better and the problems are solved. I lived in Baku for many years. We were on good terms with everyone. We would sit at a table together and leave the table. We had a very comfortable ride through customs.” “I passed this way. I didn’t have any problems. All my friends were Muslims,” he said.
“WE USED TO LIVE TOGETHER ON THIS LAND”
Stating that he is ready to accept Azerbaijani citizenship, Sarkiçevic said, “Azerbaijanis have been very good to me. I want there to be no war and our people to live together. There are many people staying in Khankendi. They want to stay.”
83-year-old Hrantik Hareçunyan, who said he was born in Khankendi, said, “We used to live together in these lands. I used to have Azerbaijani friends. We had good relations with them. I want to return to Khankendi again. Who wouldn’t want that?”
“ARMENIANS TOLD US ‘GET OUT’
Enrik Harutunyan, who said he wanted to stay in Karabakh, stated that the so-called Armenian authorities in Karabakh warned them to leave and said, “Armenians told us ‘get out’, we don’t know for sure where to go yet.”
MEETINGS CONTINUE
After Azerbaijan’s operation, meetings were held between representatives of Armenian civilians in Karabakh and the Baku administration on the issues of integration and rights of Armenians in Karabakh on September 21 in Yevlakh and on September 24 in Khojaly. It was agreed that the third meeting would be held in the near future.
ALIYEV AND PASHINYAN WILL MEET IN SPAIN ON OCTOBER 5
The first meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan after the Karabakh operation will take place in Spain on October 5. At the European Political Community Summit to be held in Granada, Spain, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Union (EU) Council President Charles Michel are also planned to attend the talks.
(UAV)