On January 29, 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan hosted a meeting of the Executive Board of the Azerbaijani Community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan with diplomatic representatives of foreign countries and international organizations accredited in the country.

In his opening speech Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammad-Guliyev spoke about the grave consequences of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, reminded that hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis were forcibly expelled from their homes and properties in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts of Azerbaijan. He underlined significance of liberation of our occupied territories and the internally displaced persons’ return to their homes within the framework of the conflict resolution. Mentioning the call to prepare the Armenian and Azerbaijani people for peace made within the framework of ongoing conflict settlement negotiations, Deputy Minister emphasized the importance of restoring contacts and dialogue between the two communities of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the country. M.Mammad-Guliyev noted that the main purpose of today’s meeting is to present the Executive Board of the Azerbaijani Community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of our country consisting of 23 members to the diplomatic corps in Baku. He brought to the attention of the diplomatic corps that restoration of violated fundamental human rights of IDP’s from the occupied lands, including over 80 000 persons representing the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and hearing to these people's voice at the international level have great value.

Hikmat Hajiyev, the Head of the Department for Foreign Policy Issues of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan pointed out in his speech the severe consequences of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, reminding the participants of the international community’s position regarding the conflict resolution, including the demands of the four UN Security Council resolutions. In this connection, he underlined worldwide support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and fair solution of the conflict in line with the norms and principles of international law. H.Hajiyev said that the Azerbaijani population of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan has been subjected to ethnic cleansing, all their fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right to live in their homelands, have been grossly violated. Under such circumstances claim by Armenia of the privileged right to the Armenian Community of Nagorno-Karabakh heavily violates all human rights instruments. Then, H.Hajiyev talked about the consistent policy pursued by the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan in order to improve the living conditions of all IDPs and refugees, the care provided to the families of martyrs by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev and informed the event participants about the meeting with martyrs' families the day before. The Azerbaijani official stressed that construction and rehabilitation works in the village of Jojug Marjanly (Cocuq Mərcanlı), ensuring the return of internally displaced persons in dignity and safety to their native lands once again demonstrates strong will of the Republic of Azerbaijan to restore all territories to be liberated and to establish sustainable peace and development.

Tural Ganjaliyev, the Head of the Azerbaijani Community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan first of all gave information about the Community and noted that according the OSCE's 1992 Helsinki decision it is an interested party in the settlement of the conflict. He introduced 23 members of the Community’s Executive Board. He recalled the days he peacefully lived in Shusha with his Armenian neighbors, and informed the participants on the readiness of the Azerbaijani Community to establish contacts and constructive dialogue with the Armenian counterparts.

Next, the members of the Community’s Executive Board Durdana Aghayeva and Samira Huseynova, both were born in Khojaly, made a speech. Noting peaceful coexistence with Armenians before the occupation of Khojaly city of Azerbaijan, they stressed that civilian Armenian population became the hostage of the Armenia’s aggression policy and said that restoration of dialogue between the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno-Karabakh is important to establish trust in the region.

During the event, other members of the Azerbaijani Community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan addressed their views and concerns, as well as questions to the representatives of the diplomatic corps.