U.S. Congressman accuses Armenia of ethnic cleansing
By Sara Rajabova
A Congressman from the United States has accused Armenia of anti-Semitism and ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijan.
Congressman Steve Stockman of Texas, speaking at the U.S. House of Representatives, discussed lack of tolerance for ethnic and religious minorities as well as the presence of anti-Semitism in Armenia, AzerTag news agency reported.
Stockman said Armenia continues the policy of anti-Semitism and ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijani minority. He referred to an article by Israeli expert on international relations Arye Gut, entitled "Anti-Semitism in Armenia: a clear and present danger," published in the newspaper Algemeiner last week.
In his article, Gut analyzes Semitism and xenophobia in the Armenian society. He also gives extensive information about the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and aggressive policy of the Armenian leadership against a sovereign state.
He further touched upon the atrocities of the Armenian armed forces and gangs in Khojaly, where 613 civilians were killed.
In 1992, the town of Khojaly, the second largest town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, came under intense fire from the towns of Khankendi and Askeran already occupied by the Armenian armed forces.
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 close range, scalped, and burned alive. Some had their eyes gouged out and others were beheaded.
More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed as a result of large-scale hostilities and over one million Azerbaijanis are unable to return their home because of the Armenian invasion of the Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions of Azerbaijan in early 1990s. Armenia continues the occupation of Azerbaijani territories, which in turn obstacles the regional security and peace.