Turkey unveils monument to Khojaly genocide victims
By Sara Rajabova
A monument to the victims of Khojaly genocide has been unveiled in the city of Usak in Turkey's Egey Province.
Addressing a ceremony to unveil the monument, Chairman of the Usak Municipality Ali Erdogan said the city council decided to unveil the monument in memory of the Khojaly massacre victims in one of the most beautiful places of the city.
He underlined that Turkish nation views Khojaly massacre as a tragedy and feels sympathy with their Azerbaijani brothers.
Azerbaijan's Consul General in Istanbul Hasan Zeynalov said that the monument is a symbol of solidarity between Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Deputy Chief of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration's Department for Socio-Political Affairs Arastun Mehdiyev briefed the participants on the Khojaly Genocide. On behalf of the government and people of Azerbaijan, Mehdiyev thanked the Turkish people and Usak municipality for erecting the monument.
Mert Kilinc who made the monument hailed ties between Azerbaijan and Turkey. He underlined the need to mount such monuments in other cities as well.
The ceremony participants also visited an exhibition on the Khojaly massacre held in the park where the monument was erected.
The ceremony was followed by a seminar called Do Not Forget Khojaly at the Usak University.
Opening the event, Rector of the University Sait Celik said that the university remembers the Khojaly victims every year. Celik noted that he keeps a close eye on the rapid development of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan's Consul General Hasan Zeynalov said that holding remembrance ceremonies in the Turkish cities helps people not to forget their history. He addressed the students, saying they must be good citizens and students to prevent such tragedies.
Arastun Mehdiyev described the Khojaly massacre as a crime against the whole Turkic world. He said international forces want to use Armenian fictitious accusations of the "1915 genocide" against Turkey. According to him, universities are obliged to study issues like this to raise awareness of future generations.
Azerbaijan's Member of Parliament Agil Abbas and Chairman of the Culture and Education Fund of Azerbaijanis in Turkey Erol Gollu took the podium and spoke about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Khojaly genocide and atrocities committed by the Armenian gangs.
Also, Turkey will host a series of events as part of the Justice for Khojaly Week to commemorate victims of a massacre. The commemorative events will be held at Eminonu Public Educational Center, Yunus Emre Culture Center, and Marmara University.