“EU reporter” publicizes article on Khojaly genocide

European “EU reporter” digital magazine has published an article on the 20th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide. The article by Colin Stevens is titled “Juctice for Khojaly”.

The article says: “‘The term ‘frozen’ doesn`t reflect the situation around the protracted conflict in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. We find it misleading, it is not adequate and status-quo can`t be kept infinitely’ the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the EU, Emin Eyyubov, told EU Reporter. ‘We have consciously chosen a civilized way of solving the conflict through diplomacy, but this way requires a lot of work and solidarity of international community, of all those, who reject the violence as an argument we do’.

On the eve of the commemoration of the most atrocious episode of the Nagorno-Karabakh war, the Khojaly massacre, the focus is once again on the problems of conflict. During the recent visit of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to NATO headquarters in Brussels, he once again expressed ‘a hope that this conflict will be resolved as soon as possible’. He reminded his audience that there is a very good legal basis for that, including the four UN Security Council resolutions demanding the immediate withdrawal of Armenian troops from occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

Nevertheless the cause requires more than resolutions from the West to make things move, especially acknowledging the great aspiration for justice and freedom among young generation of Azerbaijanis

The tragedy that took place on cold winter night 20 years ago is not just a page in history books for them. Khojaly became a symbol engraved in their hearts: Today Azeraijan`s youth is actively involved in an international civil awareness campaign ‘Justice for Khojaly!’ initiated by Mrs. Leyla Aliyeva, General Coordinator of Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation.

A modern and prosperous society, Azerbaijan remains profoundly sensitive towards the memories of the children, women and elderly people that lost their lives while attempting to flee the small town of Khojaly, which had been taken over by Armenian military on the night of 25-26 February 1992.

613 people, including more than hundred children, either died under gunfire, perished in the mountains from cold and exhaustion, or were buried under the ruins of the buildings collapsed by shellfire and whose bodies were never recovered. The young generation is not prepared to forget those who vanished as ‘casualties of war’ On contrary, there is a conviction that only through acknowledgment of crimes of the past one can move on to reconciliation to build a better future.

The aspiration of ‘Justice for Khojaly’ is a campaign like no other, because it reflects visions and hopes of a young generation who never experienced the horrors of war. For campaigners the call for the acknowledgment of genocide committed at Khojaly is an integral part of the process of reconciliation over the war.

‘Although, for Azerbaijanis it is not a pre-condition for negotiations around the conflict’ - continues Mr.Eyyubov. –‘They are ready to build trust and confidence with Armenia in spite of tragic events in the past with the hope that it will lead soon to the liberation of the occupied territories’.
‘Our president underlined on numerous occasions that Nagorno-Karabakh will be given largest autonomy possible, based on world and also European best practice, as we sited previously as an example Tyrol in Italy’.

‘Further, the position of the European Parliament and European Institutions has a palpable impact, but nevertheless the cause of events could move on at faster pace in resolving Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. As life is passes by, some of those who survived the tragedy have passed away.’

‘We have an obligation to give those expelled the possibility to return to their homes, we can’t allow it to fall into oblivion, which is largely expected by Armenian side, as we presume’, - says the Ambassador. ‘We also have to deal with the crimes in the past, like the Khojaly massacre, for the sake of better future’.

‘Srebrenica’ is qualified as genocide by International Criminal Tribunal in the Hague (ICTY), while the tragedy in Khojaly is awaiting for the judgment of the international community. Nowadays, 20 years after the tragedy, Europe should stand tall for its values in case of the Khojaly massacre to give it an adequate judgment. The approach to human tragedies should be not selective, but universal.”


/AzerTAc/