Plan of events on Khojaly Genocide’s anniversary approved
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijani Presidential Administration’s head has signed an order approving a plan of events on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of Khojaly Genocide, which committed by the Armenians in early 1990s.
Under the plan, ceremonies shall be arranged to put wreaths at memorials to Khojaly Genocide victims in Khatai district in Baku, Goranboy region and Aghjakand settlement.
Azerbaijan`s embassies, missions and diaspora organizations in foreign countries shall organize commemorative events and take measures towards spreading truth about Khojaly Genocide through the mass media, including television, radio and Internet. According to the plan, commemorative events shall also be held by religious confessions and organizations, in government bodies, theatres, concert and exhibition halls, higher educational institutions and secondary schools across the country.
The plan will also see the provision of aid to martyr families in the cities and districts where Khojaly residents live (Baku, Sumgayit, Ganja, Mingachevir, Shaki, Goranboy, Barda, Sabirabad, Goychay, Zagatala, Oguz and Balakan) with participation of heads of government bodies, MPs and intellectuals.
A nationwide minute of science for victims of Khojaly Genocide shall be observed and national flags shall be lowered across the country at 17.00 on February 26, according to the plan of events.
In 1992, the town of Khojaly, the second largest town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, came under intense fire from the towns of Khankendi and Askeran already occupied by the Armenian armed forces.
613 civilians mostly women and children were killed in the massacre, and a total of 1,000 people were disabled. Eight families were exterminated, 25 children lost both parents, and 130 children lost one parent. Moreover, 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, and the fate of 150 of them remains unknown.
The legislative bodies of many countries have already adopted resolutions recognizing the crime committed by Armenians against the peaceful people in Khojaly as genocide.
The parliaments of Pakistan, Mexico, Colombia, Romania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Jordan, as well as legislative bodies of about 20 states of the Unites States, including Texas, New-Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Western Virginia, New-Jersey and Tennessee are adopted relevant documents.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) adopted a final Cairo Communiqué in February 2013, during a summit held in Egypt's capital, calling the Khojaly tragedy as genocide against humanity. The Communiqué calls on the international community to recognize the tragedy as genocide.
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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
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