Ali Hasanov: Neighborhood with Armenians gave Azerbaijan only problems

By Azernews

By Rashid Shirinov

A documentary “Irevan: Hidden Truth” was presented in Baku on December 21.

The film (in Azerbaijani, Russian and English languages) was shot as part of a cooperation between Virtual Karabakh Information-Communication Technology Center, the Institute of History of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and the Youth and Sport Ministry.

The coordinator of Virtual Karabakh Information-Communication Technology Center, chair of the Public Council for Youth Affairs Nuraddin Mehdiyev, speaking at the ceremony, provided an insight into the project.

 He said the film aims to increase the international community`s awareness of the cultural legacy of the ancient Azerbaijani city of Irevan.

Presidential Assistant for Public and Political Affairs Ali Hasanov described the film as a serious project.

“It is an important project, but it is not enough. We should give an updated description of the history of the ancient city of Irevan, as well as mosques, monuments there. Postcards, booklets depicting these should be made, and then handed out to tourists so that they see how Armenians destroy Azerbaijan`s history. Our diplomats who travel abroad, our fellow countrymen who live in foreign countries as well as our young people should contribute to the promotion of this film worldwide,” he said.

The official went on to say that neighborhood with Armenians has given Azerbaijan only problems, danger of destruction of Azerbaijani culture and threats to security.

“Usually neighboring countries benefit each other’s development, but the neighborhood with Armenians has given us only problems, danger of destruction of our culture and threats to our security, and there has been genocide against our people,” said Hasanov.

“Our geopolitical task is to protect our history, culture, physical existence and future development from the Armenians,” he added.

Minister of Youth and Sport Azad Rahimov, in turn, said Armenians destroy intangible, cultural history of the Azerbaijani people in the occupied lands.

 “These atrocities had previously been committed in Irevan, then in Zangazur, Goycha, Verdibasar and other historic Azerbaijani territories. But Irevan suffered the most damage,” he said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.

Overall, since the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and occupation of Azerbaijani territories, Armenian aggressors destroyed 1,200 historical and architectural monuments, looted 27 museums, over 100,000 items were exported to Armenia. In addition, the Armenian occupiers destroyed 152 religious monuments and 62 mosques, 4.6 million books in 927 libraries, including the Holy Quran and rare Islamic manuscripts.