Khojaly massacre - greatest tragedy of 20th century: Turkish PM
By Jamila Babayeva
Khojaly tragedy is the greatest tragedy of the 20th century, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a session of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party.
Erdogan said the memory of the Khojaly tragedy victims is as dear for Turkey as it is for Azerbaijan, TRT Haber TV channel reported on February 25.
Turkish Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Cicek in turn said in a statement dedicated to the 22nd anniversary of the Khojaly genocide that Armenia should first of all leave the occupied lands of Azerbaijan so that peace can be established in the South Caucasus,
Cicek said that Armenia committed the 20th century's greatest genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Sondakika online newspaper reported.
"Over 600 civilians were killed and hundreds of Azerbaijani Turks were driven out from their homes 22 years ago as a result of Armenia's genocide policy," Cicek stressed.
He noted that Turkey strongly condemns the perpetrators of the Khojaly genocide.
Furthermore, Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ismail Alper Joshgun confirmed Turkey's support to Azerbaijan in informing the world community about the Khojaly genocide.
"The memory of the Khojaly genocide victims is revered worldwide, including Turkey," Joshgun said at an embassy event dedicated to 22nd anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy. "Informing the world about the Khojaly genocide is the duty of our conscience," he said. "Together with Azerbaijan we are trying to tell the world about this tragedy."
On February 25-26, 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.
As many as 613 civilians including 106 women, 70 elderly, and 83 children were killed in the massacre, and a total of 1,000 civilians were disabled. Eight families were exterminated, 25 children lost both their 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.