Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

U.S. House of Representatives member Ed Pastor has issued a statement in connection with the Khojaly tragedy -- a massacre committed against Azerbaijanis by Armenians during the 1990s war, the Embassy of Azerbaijan in the U.S. told Trend news agency.

"I rise today to remember the 21st Anniversary of the Khojaly Tragedy, which occurred in this small town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan on February 25-26, 1992.

"In the early 1990s, Azerbaijan was involved in a brutal conflict with its neighbor to the West, Armenia, and the repercussions from atrocities committed during that time still impact diplomatic and economic relations today. The Khojaly Tragedy is perhaps the worst single incident that occurred during this time, resulting in hundreds of lives lost, families devastated, and the town destroyed," the statement says.

According to Pastor, since a cease-fire was negotiated in 1994, these two nations have been locked in a dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, located within Azerbaijan but occupied by Armenian forces. The Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, of which the United States is a co-chair, was created to encourage a peaceful, negotiated resolution to this conflict, yet work remains in reaching this goal.

"In December 2012, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov addressed this situation as follows: "As a result, our relations with Armenia are practically nonexistent. There is also a distinct lack of economic cooperation and trade between our two countries. Azerbaijan wants peace so that we can continue to grow our economy, develop our energy resources and advance our relations with Europe and our neighbors. But Armenia also has a stake in peace with Azerbaijan. The country is isolated in the region largely because of this conflict. It is excluded from all regional infrastructure and energy projects, such as the oil and gas pipelines passing from the Caspian Sea to Turkey and Europe via Georgia, as well as a new railroad line between Azerbaijan and Turkey through Georgia, to be inaugurated this year. When we can agree on lasting peace, Armenia could become a stakeholder in these regional projects," the statement said.

According to Pastor, a peaceful resolution of this conflict would benefit not only Azerbaijan and Armenia, but would ensure security and economic growth for the entire South Caucasus region.

Also, recently several U.S. congressmen urged their colleagues to commemorate the victims of the Khojaly genocide.

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio Tim Ryan made a relevant statement regarding the Khojaly massacre. He said the numerous casualties and acts of torture in the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan underscore the need for a political - rather than a military - solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "A fair and comprehensive settlement is the only effective tool to encourage stability, prosperity, and a lasting peace in the region," Ryan said.

According to the congressman, as a co-chair of the Minsk Group, the United States remains committed to working with both sides to that end.

Congresswoman of the House of Representatives from North Carolina Virginia Foxx also called for commemorating the victims of the Khojaly tragedy. In a call to the North Carolina Congress on Monday, Foxx said, "Since declaring its independence from the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan has been a reliable friend and valuable ally of the United States in a turbulent region. In this true spirit of friendship, it seems appropriate for Congress to commemorate the victims of the Khojaly tragedy as Azerbaijani people mark the 21st anniversary of this event."

In the wake of these atrocities, Foxx said, Human Rights Watch described the advancing forces as committing "unconscionable acts of violence against civilians as they fled.''

In turn, Texas House of Representatives member Gene Green said it is important to take the time to remember the Khojaly Massacre which took place in Azerbaijan 21 years ago as the United States and Azerbaijan continue to develop closer relations, which have proven immensely valuable to both nations. According to Green, remembrance of the Khojaly Massacre has become nearly forgotten outside Azerbaijan's borders, despite the shocking nature of these events.

The congressman also emphasized the support of Azerbaijan to the U.S. in connection with the terror attacks of September 11, 2011.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since a lengthy war in the early 1990s that displaced over one million Azerbaijanis, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenia's withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but Armenia has not followed them to this day.

The town of Khojaly was situated within the administrative borders of the Nagorno Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Its population constituted over 7,000 people.

Late into the night of February 25, 1992, Khojaly came under intensive fire from the towns of Khankendi and Askeran already occupied by Armenian armed forces. The Armenian forces, supported by the ex-Soviet 366th regiment, completed the surrounding of the town already isolated due to ethnic cleansing of the Azerbaijani population of the neighboring regions. The joint forces occupied the town, which was ruined by heavy artillery shelling.

Thousands of fleeing civilians were ambushed by the Armenian forces. Punitive teams of the so-called Nagorno Karabakh defense army reached the unprotected civilians to slaughter them, mutilating and scalping some bodies. 613 people were killed, including 106 women, 70 elderly and 83 children. A total of 1,000 civilians were disabled. Eight families were exterminated, and 25 children lost both parents, while 130 children lost one parent. Moreover, 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 remains unknown.