Baku's invented narrative of “Western Azerbaijan” will “fall on deaf ears internationally” – Swiss legislator

YEREVAN, JANUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. Swiss lawmaker Stefan Müller-Altermatt has said that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s narrative of so-called Western Azerbaijan could benefit him domestically, but will fall on deaf ears internationally.

“After the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh, Aliyev needs new narratives to justify his tyranny. To this end, he is now reversing the victim-perpetrator narrative and inventing 'West Azerbaijan'. While this may benefit him domestically, his words will fall on deaf ears internationally,” Stefan Müller-Altermatt told Armenpress when asked to comment on Baku’s narrative of so-called Western Azerbaijan, through which many believe it seeks to materialize territorial demands against Armenia.

Touching upon the Armenian Prime Minister’s recently expressed concerns about the Azerbaijani Constitution containing territorial demands against Armenia, the Swiss legislator said it was a call to the West to be vigilant.

"I interpret the prime minister's words mainly as a call to the West to be vigilant. In the case of Artsakh, the West failed to stop the despot in Baku. This must not happen again. The EU mission and the pledges of support from France and others are extremely important. I hope the EU states will hear Pashinyan's words of warning,” Stefan Müller-Altermatt said.

The Swiss MP said that by making such demands Azerbaijan seeks to sow discord in Armenia and destabilize the country.

“It is clear that the Prime Minister [Pashinyan] is walking a tightrope. It is clear that Azerbaijan's demands have one main aim: to sow discord in Armenia and destabilize the country. He [Pashinyan] would therefore do well not to give these claims too much of an echo in his own country, but above all to proclaim with vigour that the territory of the Republic of Armenia is inviolable.”