Several countries, organizations remember Khojaly massacre - UPDATE

The Egypt-based “Ash-Shuruq” newspaper has published an article entitled “Unpunished crimes and rights without support.”

The author of the article Ahmad Tarabik writes in the article about the genocide committed by Armenians in Khojaly on February 26 in 1992. He underlines that the Khojaly events happened as part of Armenia`s agression against Azerbaijan.

The article says that in the wake of the Armenian agressive policy 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories was occupied and more than one million Azerbaijanis became IDPs.

The author expresses regret that the international community remains indefferent to the bloodshed committed in Khojaly.

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The Azerbaijan–Pakistan Foundation has organized a seminar on the Khojaly genocide at the COMSATS Institute in the city of Lahore, the capital of the province of Punjab.

The event was attended by teachers and students of the COMSATS Institute and other higher educational institutions of Punjab.
A message of Azerbaijani ambassador to Pakistan Dashgin Shikarov on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the Khojaly genocide was read out to the event participants. The ambassador highly appreciated in the message the Pakistani government`s position on the conflict and the adoption by the country`s Senate of a resolution recognizing the Khojaly genocide.
President of the Azerbaijan–Pakistan Foundation Chaudhry Naman Zafar briefed the event participants on the history of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He said as a result of Armenia`s aggressive policy against Azerbaijan 20 percent of territories of Azerbaijan was occupied and more than one million people were driven from their homes. He described the genocide committed by Armenian armed forces in Khojaly in 1992 as the most tragic page of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Zafar also drew the audience`s attention to the fact that official Yerevan does not honor resolutions on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict adopted by international organizations.

Speaking at the event, professor Abdus Sattar said though some international organizations and parliaments of several countries recognized the Khojaly genocide, the world community still remains indifferent and do not give proper legal assessment to this tragedy. Professor of COMSATS Fuad Javid called the Khojaly events barbaric acts. He said those who committed the Khojaly genocide must be punished.

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Member of "All for the Motherland" block of the Lithuanian Seimas, member of the Azerbaijani-Latvian parliamentary cooperation group, MP Romans Naudins issued an official statement on occasion of the 21st anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy. The statement posted on the official website of the MP (http://www.romansnaudins.lv/viedoklis/hodzali-tragedija-reta-katra-azerbaidzana-sirdi) under the heading "Khojaly tragedy - the scar in the heart of every Azerbaijani," reads: "Khojaly tragedy of Azerbaijan marks 21st anniversary on February 26.

On February 25, 1992, an hour before midnight, Armenian militants attacked the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. During the attack, at one night, 613 people lost their lives, including 106 women, 63 children and 70 elderly people, 25 children lost both parents, 130 children lost one parent. In the tragic night of February 25, 1275 people were captured, of which 150 are still missing. This brutal attack was committed by people who have not punished for this crime yet. Those who planned and commanded the attack later became ministers and senior officials. The international community should support the efforts of the Republic of Azerbaijan to achieve the recognition of the brutal attack on the civilian population and punishment of its perpetrators. Such crimes do not have a statute of limitations.”

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Members of Azerbaijani and Hungarian Youth Organization have held a rally on the 21st anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy in the Heroes’ Square in the center of Budapest.

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Bishkek-based Azerbaijani Cultural Center “Azeri” has held a ceremony commemorating the 21st anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy.

The event was attended by staff members of Azerbaijan`s embassy to Kyrgyzstan, members of the Azerbaijani diaspora, public figures and journalists.

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Sheffield Azerbaijan Society has organized an event to commemorate victims of the Khojaly genocide.

Initiated by head of Society Javid Mammadzade, the event brought together Azerbaijani and foreign students.

The event participants distributed books and brochures about the Khojaly tragedy and the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh problem among more than 500 people.

A documentary in which students express their support of the Justice for Khojaly campaign was demonstrated at the event.

Sheffield Azerbaijani Society released a statement on the Khojaly tragedy to be published in the University of Sheffield`s newspaper.


/AzerTAc/