1 April 1996

In 1988, after the Armenians forcibly removed our compatriots- the Azerbaijanis from Armenia, they were given a name by the locals: Yerazis. This name was given as a pejorative. Who gave this name? Despicable people like Vazirov, people in his inner circle, despicable people like Mutallibov and people in his inner circle. Regardless of where he was born, an Azerbaijani is an honorable person everywhere. Wether one was born in Kalbajar, Lachin, Zangezur, or Goycha district, or was born in Borchali, Baku, Mashtaga – it doesn’t matter, they are all one nation, Azerbaijanis. Those who divide our nation into classes and disintegrate the communities are the biggest traitors to the people of Azerbaijan and our nation. It is the greatest crime to have a negative attitude towards the people who were forcibly displaced from their homes, to people who were forced out of Armenia, or to give them a negative name, to treat them with such arrogance, and I call it indecency, lack of morals, and lack of education. I always thought so. As the President of Azerbaijan, I have stated this many times, and I am also declaring today that we Azerbaijanis, the people of Azerbaijan, have not set our eyes on other nation’s land. Although in the past, some of the lands of Azerbaijan have been transferred to other countries as a result of various events, including some of the lands that are now within the borders of Armenia, have been the historical lands of Azerbaijan: Goycha district, Zangezur district, and others