Armenian leadership challenging int. peace
By Mushvig Mehdiyev
A commemorative ceremony dedicated to the 23rd anniversary of the Khojaly Genocide was organized in Turkish capital city Ankara on February 21.
The Index - Center for Human Capital Development of Azerbaijan organized the event as part of the “Justice for Khojaly!” international campaign, initiated by Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
The event was attended by Ali Hasanovç Head of the Public and Political Affairs Department at the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, Ibrahim Kalinç Chief Advisor to Turkish President, as well as members of Azerbaijani and Turkish parliaments, scientists and cultural figures, and Azerbaijani students.
The participants first viewed an exhibition featuring rare photos of the Khojaly genocide and Azerbaijan's occupied Karabakh region, and watched a documentary highlighting the consequences of Armenia's aggressive policy against Azerbaijan.
Addressing the ceremony, Hasanov said the Khojaly Genocide was one of the most terrible crimes that Armenians committed against Azerbaijan and Turkey.
"The former and current leaders of aggressive Armenia are challenging the peaceful international community as they confess the military crimes that they've committed before the world's very eyes and even express their proud of doing it. Armenia's aggressive policy is a deliberate action against the peaceful life, moral and psychological stability, intellectual energy of the Azerbaijani people,” Hasanov noted.
He added that thousands of commemorative events on the Khojaly Genocide are held annually across the world.
"The main goal is to inform the world community about aggression against the Azerbaijani people and expose Armenian lies, including the so-called "Armenian genocide," Hasanov said.
Azerbaijan is not intending to take revenge on Armenia, Hasanov said. "Everyone should realize and understand its international responsibilities."
Delivering a speech at the event, Kalin, for his turn, said the Turkish people have always shown solidarity with Azerbaijan. He added that Turkey wants peace and stability between Turkey and Armenia, Azerbaijan and Armenia and in the whole Caucasus.
"To this end, Armenia should first quit its aggressive policy, Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs should return to their homelands, and Armenia's groundless claims against Azerbaijan and Turkey must be stopped,” Kalin noted.
Necdet Unuvar, Head of Turkey-Azerbaijan Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group, called the Khojaly Genocide a military crime against humanity, adding that the world community does not have a moral right to remain indifferent toward this issue.
Participants of the event further prayed for the martyrs and expressed their hope that the world community will continue recognizing the Khojaly tragedy as a genocide, and the resolutions and decisions by the UN and other international organizations ensuring Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity will be implemented.
In 1992, the town of Khojaly came under intensefire 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, the fate of 150 of them remains unknown. Many civilians were shot at close range, scalped or burned alive.
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