Azernews.Az

The Ankara-based University Türk Hava Kurumu hosted a conference dedicated to the 21st anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, AzerTac state news agency reported.

The conference was organized under the support of the Embassy of Azerbaijan to Turkey.

Opening the conference, the rector of the University, Professor Unsal Ban said the staff of the University is proud to contribute to the recognition of Khojaly genocide, which is a tragedy not only for Azerbaijan and Turkey, but for the whole Turkic world and humanity.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, several ministers and parliamentarians of Turkey have sent a message to the participants of the conference.
Speaking at the conference Head of the department of social and political affairs of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Ali Hasanov expressed gratitude to Turkish government for its contribution to Khojaly massacre awareness campaign.

Informing about the Khojaly genocide, Ali Hasanov said that the massacre committed by Armenians in Khojaly, the third largest town of Nagorno Karabakh region, has been prepared during several months.

"Two months before the tragedy, all the roads leading to the city had been blocked to prevent full evacuation of the civilian population. At the time of the attack committed by he regular Soviet army units and the Armenian militants, 2700 civilians remained in Khojaly. As a result of the attack, in the night from 25 to 26 February 613 civilians were brutally killed, the fate of 150 people is still unknown. Fearing pressure from international organizations, the Armenians freed 1200 captives."

"Khojaly massacre is an act of genocide. Azerbaijan together with fraternal Turkey does all its best to achieve the recognition of the genocide. The parliaments of the four countries - Colombia, Mexico, Pakistan and the Czech Republic, as well as six U.S. states have already recognized the Khojaly genocide, 55 members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have also taken similar steps," Ali Hasanov said.

Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Turkey Faik Bagirov, chairman of Turkey-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Necdet Unuvar, MP Pashayeva, members of Turkish parliament also addressed the conference.

Summing up the conference, Ali Hasanov said that people through social networks, as well as non-governmental organizations should contribute to the campaign aimed at the recognition of the Khojaly genocide. The participants of the conference viewed photo exhibition dedicated to the Khojaly genocide and watched a documentary produced by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.