Turkish Forum

Tag: Khojaly Massacre

  • Canadian MP calls on colleagues to commemorate the victims of Khojaly tragedy in Parliament

    Canadian MP calls on colleagues to commemorate the victims of Khojaly tragedy in Parliament

    40th PARLIAMENT, 3rd SESSION

    Thursday, March 11, 2010

    HedyFry
    Hon. Hedy Fry Member of House of Common Canadian Parliament

    Member of Canadian Parliament Hedy Fry at the meeting of the House of Commons called on colleagues to commemorate the victims of the Khojaly tragedy jointly with members of country’s Azerbaijani community.

    Fry also called to recognize the tragedies that occurred in the life of peoples, which representatives live in Canada.

    (Non-official translation from French to English)

    L’hon. Hedy Fry (Vancouver-Centre, Lib.):

    “Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask this House to join me and the Azeri community in Canada to commemorate the tragedy of Khojaly, which took place 18 years ago, on 25 and 26 February. I know that this date has passed.

    However, I think it is important for Canada, as a global nation, home to people from different countries who came here to find new beginnings, to recognize the tragedies that once marred their lives and mourn with them, however briefly. The tragedy of lost human life is still too common in a world plagued by civil strife. Canada, through democracy and rule of law, has found peaceful resolution to our own civil disagreements. By remembering tragedies such as Khojaly, we can hopefully help our new citizens to remember the past while beginning anew to embrace values of peaceful coexistence here in Canada”.

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  • Azerbaijani and Turkish Diasporas commemorate Khojaly victims in Australia

    Azerbaijani and Turkish Diasporas commemorate Khojaly victims in Australia

    Sidney. Elmin Ibrahimov – APA. 18th anniversary of Khojaly Genocide was commemorated in Sidney, Australia. Before the Friday prayer, nearly 3500 people at the Gelibolu Mosque, the largest mosque in Australia, were informed about the genocide in details by Vice President of Azerbaijan-Turkish Friendship Society and Turkic Associations Federation Imammaddin Gasimov. Then they prayed for the souls of Khojaly victims.

    Nearly 150 representatives of the Azerbaijani, Turkish, other Turkic organizations and local community, as well as Azerbaijani students of the Australian universities gathered at the Turkish House to commemorate Khojaly tragedy. Izzet Anmak, Deputy Chairman of Auburn municipality, dense-populated by the Turkic-speaking people, attended the ceremony. Local Diaspora representatives showed video tapes sent by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation at the event organized by the Australian Azerbaijan-Turkish Friendship Society and Radio Voice of Azerbaijan, broadcasting in Sidney.

    Head of the Turkish House Beshir Karasu and president of Turkic Associations Federation Dursun Candemir condemned the Armenian atrocities committed against Azerbaijani Turks.

  • Turkish parliamentarians calls for suing Khojaly crime at international court

    Turkish parliamentarians calls for suing Khojaly crime at international court

    [ 25 Feb 2010 15:56 ]

    Baku – APA. On February 25, Turkish parliament addressed the issue related to anniversary of Khojaly tragedy in Azerbaijan.

    According to APA, Turkish parliamentarians took the floor and expressed opinion of their parties about the frightful massacre committed in the occupied Nagorno Karabakh region of Azerbaijan by Armenian invaders and their supporters – Russian militaries 18 years ago. The parliamentarians cursed the Khojaly massacre as a crime against humanity and expressed their solidarity with Azerbaijan.

    Chairman of Azerbaijan-Turkish inter-parliamentary friendship group, member of ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Mustafa Kabakci said Armenia, which accused Turkey in genocide, itself committed genocide in the near past – in 1992. “Armenians supported by the Russian 366th infantry regiment closed entrance and exits of Khojaly town of Azerbaijan and killed 613 of our brothers and sisters. We were together with Azerbaijan yesterday and we are together today”.

    Atilla Kaya spoken on behalf of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) said he took the floor to remember and remind about the Khojaly tragedy, one of the massacres of 20th century committed by Armenians. “Khojaly tragedy was a crime against our nation in Nagorno Karabakh. This massacre was committed with the support of Russians. Khojaly was a town with 11 000 population, but part of the people left the town. Those who didn’t leave faced with an attack of Armenians and Russians on February 26, 1992. 613 were killed, 1200 – taken hostage and 475 seriously wounded”.

    Kaya focused the attention on the fact that Nagorno Karabakh Armenians were led by incumbent president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and former president Robert Kocharian during the Khojaly genocide. “Unfortunately today Serzh Sargsyan visits Turkey and meets with our president. Those who committed war crimes in Bosnia appeared before the international court. Those who committed war crimes in Azerbaijan must also appear before the international court”.

  • Letters to Obama, Congressmen and Senators

    Letters to Obama, Congressmen and Senators

    [ 23 Feb 2010 12:15 ]

    Washington. Isabel Levine – APA. During the past couple weeks American Azerbaijanis and their US supporters have sent 1211 letters to the US Administration, including US President Barack Obama, vice-president Joe Biden, secretary of state Hilary Clinton, as well as US Congressmen and Senators, APA’s Washington correspondent was told at Azerbaijani Diaspora organization USAN.
    The reason for sending the letters was to recognize and commemorate the Khojaly Massacre of 1992.

    The authors of the letter point out that “All Azerbaijani people will forever remember where they were on February 26, 1992, like all Americans will forever remember where they were on the tragic morning of September 11, 2001. Having experienced terror firsthand, Azerbaijan has become a staunch ally of the United States in the War on Terror and a member of the Coalition, with Azerbaijani battle-ready peacekeepers serving side-by-side with Americans in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq”.

    On the 18th anniversary of the massacre the Diaspora is also calling upon the to properly recognize and commemorate this tragedy on the floor of the Congress, in the Congressional Record, and by attending a vigil, and to pressure the Armenian government to accept its responsibility for this massacre and withdraw its troops from the occupied regions of Azerbaijan.

    In the meanwhile the Turkish and Azerbaijani Diasporas have sent during the recent two weeks more than 2436 letters to the representatives of US government, including the Congress members and the House and Senate Foreign affairs Committee. These letters are targeting to influence the US Congress to vote against the H252, Congressional resolution on the so called “Armenian Genocide”, voting on which has been has been scheduled for a vote in at the House Foreign Affairs Committee on March 4, 2010.

  • Khojaly genocide commemorated at University of California

    Khojaly genocide commemorated at University of California

     
     

    [ 22 Feb 2010 15:40 ]

    Baku – APA. California-based Azerbaijan-American Council, Association of Turkic-speaking students at Berkeley and Association of Turkish-American Assembly organized a ceremony for commemoration of Khojaly genocide on February 19 at the University of California, Berkeley. Azerbaijan-American Council told APA members of the Azerbaijani community, Azerbaijani students educated in California, officials of the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles and Berkeley students attended the ceremony. Professor Thomas Goltz of Montana University, Professor Thomas Ambrosio of North Dakota State University, Parvin Akhanci of University of California, Davis, Azerbaijan Consulate General official Elshan Baloglanov, ATAA representative Ergun Kirikovali and AAC Director Executive Javid Huseynov addressed the ceremony.

    Odious Armenian terrorist, Armenian national hero Monte Melkonian, who was killed by the Azerbaijani soldiers in Nagorno Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in June, 1993, graduated from the University of California, Berkeley.

  • Organizations to commemorate Khojaly genocide

    Organizations to commemorate Khojaly genocide

    [ 18 Feb 2010 18:41 ]

    Baku – APA. State Committee for Diaspora confirmed the plan of events on Azerbaijani Diaspora organizations’ commemorating the 18th anniversary of Khojaly genocide abroad, the committee’s press service told APA. Protest actions, conferences, commemorative events, exhibitions will be held this year, too.
    German Azerbaijanis Coordination Center with the support of Azerbaijani embassy in Germany will demonstrate the paintings included into the exhibition of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation “Khojaly in the eyes of children” in Berlin from February 18 till February 28.

    Rally on the 18th anniversary of the genocide will be held in Breitscheidplatz, Berlin, on February 26. The event will be held on the initiative of German Azerbaijanis Coordination Center, Azerbaijani House, German Azerbaijan Solidarity Society with the participation of Ireli Public Union and Justice for Khojaly movement.
    The 18th anniversary will also be commemorated in France. On February 21, Strasbourg Azerbaijan House will broadcast a special radio program on Khojaly tragedy. The Azerbaijanis living in Strasbourg will also organize “MAIL” action on February 24-25.
    Over 6000 mails on Khojaly tragedy in French, English and Turkish will be sent as a result of the cooperation of Azerbaijani House with French organizations. They will be mainly sent to the Council of Europe, European Union, other international organizations, senate and state bodies of France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, Sweden, US, Israel and Sutralia. Rally on the 18th anniversary of Khojaly genocide will be held in Kleber square, Strasbourg on February 27.

    Forum of Azerbaijani Students in Europe (FASE) is planning to hold meetings and other protest actions in several cities of France on 18th anniversary of Khojaly genocide. The officials will be also invited to the events. Union of Azerbaijanis of France and French-Azerbaijani Youth Association and Toulouse-based Azerbaijani Student Association and Public Union of Azerbaijan “Irali” (Forward) will organize a march of protest in the center of Paris.

    UK-based European Azerbaijani Society will collect signatures within the campaign Justice for Khojaly on February 24. Our compatriots will join a meeting to take place at the UK parliament between the Azerbaijani embassy and lords on February 26. American writer-journalist, researcher of Caucasian conflicts over the past 20 years, author of Azerbaijani Diary Thomas Goltz will address the meeting.

    Representatives of Azerbaijani Diaspora will hold a protest action outside of the UK parliament on February 26.

    The genocide victims will be commemorated in the different events in the United States. Truth about the Khojaly tragedy will be delivered to the world community at the events organized by the American-Azerbaijan Council, Azerbaijan New York Association, Houston-Baku Twin Cities Association.

    Turkey-based Azerbaijani organizations are also planning to hold commemoration events on 18th anniversary of the genocide.

    Students and professors of the Northern Cyprus Eastern Mediterranean University will attend the commemoration event organized by the Economic, Cultural Cooperation Center of the University.

    Commemoration events will be organized in the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Estonia, Hungary, Romania, UAE, Egypt, Thailand, New Zealand, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.