Mayor of Calgary recognizes Khojaly genocide
The mayor of Calgary has recognized the Khojaly genocide and said that the Armenian armed forces are responsible for this crime.
This was achieved due to activity of Alberta Azerbaijani Cultural Society (ALACS).
Letter signed by Mayor Nahed K.Nenshem says: "On the night of February 26, 1992 Armenian armed forces surrounded the town of Khojaly in Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, attacked the city and massacred civilians, who were leaving the town," the State Committee on Work with Diaspora said on Monday.
The letter also states that "the city of Calgary recognized February 25-26, 2012 as the 20th anniversary of those tragic days, and honors the memory of people killed during these events".
By the decision of the city's mayor the 20th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide was commemorated in Calgary on February 25-26, 2012.
The Armenian military forces committed genocide in Khojaly on Feb. 26, 1992. Some 613 people were killed, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old men. A total of 1,000 civilians were disabled during the genocide. Eight families were annihilated, 130 children lost one parent, and 25 lost both. Additionally, 1,275 peaceful residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 remains unknown.
This story is published by AzerNEWS Weekly under a project funded by the Foundation for State Assistance to the Development of the Media under the President of the Azerbaijan Republic.