YEREVAN. – Speaking to news reporters in the Azerbaijani capital city Baku, Armenia’s opposition Heritage Party Chairman Raffi Hovannisian expressed a hope that the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be able to achieve peace and restore relations, the party informs.   

To note, Hovannisian went to Baku to attend and address the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), to which he was invited.  

Hovannisian noted that using words such as “occupation” are wrong in the case of the Karabakh conflict, Turan News Agency of Azerbaijan reports.  

“According to the same terminology, Turkey and Azerbaijan likewise have occupied the majority of Armenian lands,” Heritage’s leader stated, and added that Azerbaijan’s aggression against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh was the cause of this conflict.    

“[But] I hope we will be able to achieve peace and restore relations. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh have the right to express themselves and announce about their identity,” Raffi Hovannisian said.    

“I understand the problems of the 700,000 Azerbaijani refugees and the rights of the 400,000 Armenian refugees. They have a right to return to their lands—including Azerbaijanis, to independent Nagorno-Karabakh, and Armenians, to Turkey,” the Armenian opposition party leader stated.   

Also, Raffi Hovannisian expressed a hope to be able to visit the Armenian church in Baku and meet with the Armenians that are still living in the city.