No Such Nation as ‘Karabakh Armenians’: Safarov Says No More Money Spent on Weapons

Twenty years ago, tens of thousands of Azerbaijanis were forced to flee their homes. Every refugee is a story full of pain and emotions, reports Nezavisimaya Gazeta, the correspondent of which, Sohbet Mamedov, conducted an interview with the leader of Karabakh’s Azeri community Bayram Safarov.

Ahead of the interview, the journalist writes: “I say ‘Karabakhtsis’ since this term should characterize the people from Karabakh — Azerbaijanis just as Armenians. There is no such nation as Karabakh Armenians or Karabakh Azeris.”

Bayram Safarov, in turn, notes that his generation still remembers the period of cohabitation (when Armenians and Azeris lived side by side), and he can overcome the feeling of alienation and hatred.

“But young people grow up in conditions of hatred, since it is impossible to forget all that is the reason for which young people were left without homes and land. Under conditions of occupation, hatred can only grow. We have the same right to live in Karabakh as the Armenians,” said Safarov.

Karabakh’s Armenian population, in his opinion, does not have an interest in continuing the conflict — “it has become a hostage of circumstances.”

“It would be better for not only Armenians but also Azeris if the money spent on arms and armies in both countries were [instead] spent on improving the welfare of the people and restoring the region,” he said.

Photo: HayCafe