Azernews.Az

The White House on Tuesday issued an official response to the petitions on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Khojaly tragedy, posted on its website.

According to it, the U.S. committed to lasting and peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"While we will not be issuing a Presidential Proclamation, United States deeply regrets the tragic losses of life in the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It reminds us that there cannot be a military solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, and that only a lasting and peaceful settlement can bring stability, prosperity, and reconciliation to the region. As a Co-Chair of the Minsk Group, the United States remains firmly committed to working with all sides to achieve peace," the document says.

Earlier, two petitions on recognition of Khojaly genocide and occupation of the Azerbaijani territories were posted at a special section of the official website of the White House. Both of them received the required number of signatures (100, 000), for consideration by the U.S. President Barack Obama.

On Feb. 25-26 February, 1992, Armenian occupation forces together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops stationed in Khankendi (previously Stepanakert) committed an act of genocide towards the population of the Azerbaijani Khojaly town.

Some 613 people were killed including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old men. A total of 1000 civilians were disabled during the genocide. Eight families were killed, 130 children lost one parent and 25 lost both. Additionally, 1275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 remains unknown.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. - are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented four U.N. Security Council resolutions on the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.