ID :
48234
Sat, 02/28/2009 - 19:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/48234
The shortlink copeid
U.S. CONGRESSMAN MAKES STATEMENT ON 17TH ANNIVERSARY OF KHOJALY TRAGEDY
Washington, 28 February (AzerTAc) Member of the Azerbaijan Caucus in U.S Congress Ed Whitfield made Thursday a statement on the 17th anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy.
Speaking on the tragedy`s history, Whitfield said “on February 26, 1992, the small
town of Khojaly, Azerbaijan was violently shaken by invading Armenian troops during
the Armenian-Azerbaijan war. Armenian forces surrounded the town and opened fire on
the innocent inhabitants. During this bloody incursion, nearly 2,000
civilians--mostly women, children and the elderly--were brutally killed, wounded or
taken hostage by the Armenian military forces as they seized the town. This resulted
in the largest massacre of modern times in the Caucasus and Caspian Basin.”
He noted “according to Human Rights Watch and other international observers, the
massacre was committed by the ethnic Armenian armed forces, reportedly with the help
of the Russian 366th Motor Rifle Regiment. This crime led to the death of 613
civilians, including 106 women, 63 children and 70 elderly men; 1275 persons were
taken hostage, and the fate of more than 150 remains unknown.”
Whitfield cited an article on the massacre published in U.S.-based Newsweek
Magazine: “Azerbaijan was a charnel house again last week: a place of mourning
refugees and dozens of mangled corpses dragged to a makeshift morgue behind the
mosque. They were ordinary Azerbaijani men, women and children of Khojaly, a small
village in war-tom Nagorno-Karabakh overrun by Armenian forces on 25-26 February.
Many were killed at close range while trying to flee; some had their faces
mutilated, others were scalped.”
He pointed out on November 29, 1993, Newsweek quoted a senior U.S. Government
official as saying, “what we see now is a systematic destruction of every village in
their (the Armenians) way. It`s vandalism.”
“Tragically, during this war, Khojaly was simply the first example of this savage
cruelty. In fact, the level of brutality and the unprecedented atrocities committed
at Khojaly set a pattern of destruction and ethnic cleansing that Armenian troops
would adhere to for the remainder of the war,” he underscored.
Whitfield noted “altogether, the occupied areas represent roughly 20 percent of the
territory of Azerbaijan. And, altogether roughly one million Azerbaijanis were
evicted from their homes over the course of the Armenian-Azerbaijan war.”
In recognition of this horrific day, an international humanitarian awareness
campaign, “Justice for Khojaly,” was initiated by Ms. Leyla Aliyeva, and provides
much needed information on the massacre through its website for interested parties.
In the wake of the 17th anniversary of this massacre, I encourage all of us to
familiarize ourselves with this dreadful past so it is not repeated in the future. I
also stand with all Azerbaijani-Americans as they recognize and commemorate this
solemn day,” the Congressman concluded.
Speaking on the tragedy`s history, Whitfield said “on February 26, 1992, the small
town of Khojaly, Azerbaijan was violently shaken by invading Armenian troops during
the Armenian-Azerbaijan war. Armenian forces surrounded the town and opened fire on
the innocent inhabitants. During this bloody incursion, nearly 2,000
civilians--mostly women, children and the elderly--were brutally killed, wounded or
taken hostage by the Armenian military forces as they seized the town. This resulted
in the largest massacre of modern times in the Caucasus and Caspian Basin.”
He noted “according to Human Rights Watch and other international observers, the
massacre was committed by the ethnic Armenian armed forces, reportedly with the help
of the Russian 366th Motor Rifle Regiment. This crime led to the death of 613
civilians, including 106 women, 63 children and 70 elderly men; 1275 persons were
taken hostage, and the fate of more than 150 remains unknown.”
Whitfield cited an article on the massacre published in U.S.-based Newsweek
Magazine: “Azerbaijan was a charnel house again last week: a place of mourning
refugees and dozens of mangled corpses dragged to a makeshift morgue behind the
mosque. They were ordinary Azerbaijani men, women and children of Khojaly, a small
village in war-tom Nagorno-Karabakh overrun by Armenian forces on 25-26 February.
Many were killed at close range while trying to flee; some had their faces
mutilated, others were scalped.”
He pointed out on November 29, 1993, Newsweek quoted a senior U.S. Government
official as saying, “what we see now is a systematic destruction of every village in
their (the Armenians) way. It`s vandalism.”
“Tragically, during this war, Khojaly was simply the first example of this savage
cruelty. In fact, the level of brutality and the unprecedented atrocities committed
at Khojaly set a pattern of destruction and ethnic cleansing that Armenian troops
would adhere to for the remainder of the war,” he underscored.
Whitfield noted “altogether, the occupied areas represent roughly 20 percent of the
territory of Azerbaijan. And, altogether roughly one million Azerbaijanis were
evicted from their homes over the course of the Armenian-Azerbaijan war.”
In recognition of this horrific day, an international humanitarian awareness
campaign, “Justice for Khojaly,” was initiated by Ms. Leyla Aliyeva, and provides
much needed information on the massacre through its website for interested parties.
In the wake of the 17th anniversary of this massacre, I encourage all of us to
familiarize ourselves with this dreadful past so it is not repeated in the future. I
also stand with all Azerbaijani-Americans as they recognize and commemorate this
solemn day,” the Congressman concluded.
