European Commission condemns Khojaly massacre
The European Commission has condemned the Khojaly massacre
perpetrated by Armenians in 1992.
A letter forwarded on behalf of the European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in reply to the statement issued by the Coordination Council of Azerbaijani Organizations of Benelux (CCAOB) over the 16th anniversary of the tragedy, said tragic developments indeed took place in the town of Khojaly and the blood of innocent people was shed.
Fuad Humbatov, first secretary of Azerbaijan's embassy in Belgium and Luxembourg and the representation at the European Union, said the Commission denounced the unprecedented tragedy of the 20th century.
"For the first time, more objective expressions were used with regard to the Khojaly tragedy. It was openly stated on behalf of the Commission President that the bloody acts and inhuman atrocities had been committed."
Thousands of Azeri civilians were slain by the Armenian forces in the Khojaly district with the support of Russian troops on February 26, 1992. 613 people were brutally killed, including 106 women, 63 children and 70 elderly. 1,275 were taken captives, while 487 became handicapped and 150 went missing.
The European Commission said it has "several times expressed its unequivocal condemnation of all wars and acts of violence".
"The tragic facts occurred in Khojaly must remind us every day that war implies unacceptable sufferings and claims a heavy toll of human lives on all sides.
"For this reason, the European Commission supports the peaceful settlements of conflicts through negotiation and dialogue between all the parties involved; the conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh is no exception to this rule. We shall continue to use all opportunities at our disposal to call upon all sides to reach a rapid and peaceful settlement of the conflict in the region," the letter said.
Humbatov said the letter indicated that influential international organizations have started to take steps in recognizing the Khojaly developments as a tragedy, a crime against humanity and finally, as genocide.
On February 26, CCAOB held a public action outside the EC's residence in Brussels and subsequently forwarded an official letter to the Commission's leadership calling for recognition of the developments as genocide.
A letter forwarded on behalf of the European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in reply to the statement issued by the Coordination Council of Azerbaijani Organizations of Benelux (CCAOB) over the 16th anniversary of the tragedy, said tragic developments indeed took place in the town of Khojaly and the blood of innocent people was shed.
Fuad Humbatov, first secretary of Azerbaijan's embassy in Belgium and Luxembourg and the representation at the European Union, said the Commission denounced the unprecedented tragedy of the 20th century.
"For the first time, more objective expressions were used with regard to the Khojaly tragedy. It was openly stated on behalf of the Commission President that the bloody acts and inhuman atrocities had been committed."
Thousands of Azeri civilians were slain by the Armenian forces in the Khojaly district with the support of Russian troops on February 26, 1992. 613 people were brutally killed, including 106 women, 63 children and 70 elderly. 1,275 were taken captives, while 487 became handicapped and 150 went missing.
The European Commission said it has "several times expressed its unequivocal condemnation of all wars and acts of violence".
"The tragic facts occurred in Khojaly must remind us every day that war implies unacceptable sufferings and claims a heavy toll of human lives on all sides.
"For this reason, the European Commission supports the peaceful settlements of conflicts through negotiation and dialogue between all the parties involved; the conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh is no exception to this rule. We shall continue to use all opportunities at our disposal to call upon all sides to reach a rapid and peaceful settlement of the conflict in the region," the letter said.
Humbatov said the letter indicated that influential international organizations have started to take steps in recognizing the Khojaly developments as a tragedy, a crime against humanity and finally, as genocide.
On February 26, CCAOB held a public action outside the EC's residence in Brussels and subsequently forwarded an official letter to the Commission's leadership calling for recognition of the developments as genocide.