BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 20. The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan issued a statement in connection with
June 20 – World Refugee Day.
The statement was published on the ministry's X page.
"On 20 June - World Refugee Day, we express our
solidarity with millions of refugees and forcibly displaced persons
around the world who continue to face immense hardship,
uncertainty, and the loss of their homes and livelihoods.
For Azerbaijan, the issue of forced displacement carries
particular significance. As a result of aggression and occupation
of Azerbaijan’s territories, more than one million Azerbaijanis
became refugees and internally displaced persons, enduring decades
of displacement and deprivation. The rights of these individuals
were severely violated, while their homes, communities, and
cultural heritage were destroyed.
Today, following the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity and sovereignty, the country is implementing an
unprecedented reconstruction and rehabilitation program in the
formerly occupied territories. Through the Great Return Program,
former internally displaced persons are gradually returning to
their native lands in safety, dignity, and security, rebuilding
their lives and communities after years of displacement.
Azerbaijan remains committed to supporting international efforts
aimed at addressing the root causes of forced displacement,
promoting durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced
persons, and upholding the norms and principles of international
law.
On this World Refugee Day, we honor the resilience and courage
of refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide and reaffirm
our commitment to ensuring that all those forcibly displaced can
one day return home and live in peace, dignity, and prosperity,"
the statement says.
