Azerbaijan’s role in globe mulled in San Diego
By Sara Rajabova
The University of California (UCSD) in San Diego, United States hosted a discussion on Azerbaijan on October 15.
Addressing the event, Azerbaijani Consul General Nasimi Aghayev made a presentation "Azerbaijan and current situation in Caspian region."
Being held on the initiative of the University of California, the event was hosted by the Global Forum at the International House of the UCSD.
Aghayev spoke about Azerbaijan's history, culture, its development as an independent nation, its oil strategy, relations with U.S., Europe and neighboring countries.
He stressed that Azerbaijan established the first secular parliamentary republic in the Islamic world and granted women's suffrage even before the United States.
Aghayev underlined the extraordinary role of Azerbaijan's oil and oil workers in achieving the victory over fascism during the Second World War.
He further highlighted the long-standing traditions of ethnic and religious tolerance in Azerbaijan adding that Azerbaijan's government is paying a special attention to strengthening these traditions.
Aghayev also informed the participants about the ongoing military occupation of Azerbaijan's lands by Armenia and ethnic cleansing and massacres perpetrated by the Armenian army against Azerbaijani civilians.
Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor that had caused a lengthy war in the early 1990s.
The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenia's withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been enforced to this day.
Aghayev also briefed the participants about the bloody Khojaly genocide committed by the Armenian armed forces in February 1992.
613 civilians mostly women and children were killed in the massacre, and a total of 1,000 people were disabled. Eight families were exterminated, 25 children lost both parents, and 130 children lost one parent. Moreover, 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, and the fate of 150 of them remains unknown. Civilians were shot at a close range, scalped, and burned alive. Some had their eyes gouged out and others were beheaded.
Aghayev further referred to the "Contract of the Century" signed on September 20, 1994 as a result of Azerbaijan's national leader Heydar Aliyev's tireless efforts. He said this document laid the foundation for the future development of the country's oil strategy.
Also, speaking about the achievements under President Ilham Aliyev's leadership over the past years, Aghayev noted that this progress is a result of the far-reaching policy led by national leader which has been successfully continued into the present time.
He stressed that currently Azerbaijan has became the center of political and economic power in the region.
Speaking about the Azerbaijan's constructive foreign policy, Aghayev referred to the country's relations with regional countries and international community.
The presentation was followed by a lively Q&A session, during which Aghayev responded to various questions.