…Over the past two centuries, the Armenian bigots, in an effort to materialize their dream of “Great Arme­nia” at the expense of the historical Azerbaijani lands, have repeatedly committed crimes against humanity, such as terrorism, mass extermination, deportation and ethnic cleansing of our people. However, the Khojaly genocide, which occurred in the late 20th cen­tury right in front of the eyes of the entire world, was distinguished for the particular brutality and ruth­lessness and has become the bloodiest page of this aggressive policy. The political and legal responsi­bility for this grave crime rests directly on them and current leaders of Armenia, on the separatist Moun­tainous Garabagh regime.

For nearly 20 years Azerbaijan has been carry­ing out a specific and systematic work to inform the world community of the Khojaly tragedy perpetrat­ed by the Armenian fascists and to have it be recog­nized on the international arena as a genocide. In the  recent years, as a part of the international campaign “Justice for Khojaly”, numerous institutions of civil society, youth and Diaspora organizations represent­ing our compatriots together with the government agencies have been carrying out productive activities in this area. The true face of the Armenian propagan­da machine, built on lies and falsifications, is already being exposed, the global public opinion has begun to perceive the truth about Khojaly. The Parliamenta­ry Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has recognized this fact as “a massive crime against humanity” and urged its member-states to give an appropriate political and legal assessment to this tragedy. The parliaments of Pakistan and Mexico have issued resolutions recognizing this massacre as an act of genocide.

Currently, the Republic of Azerbaijan is playing an important role in the global security system and in the fight against international terrorism. We con­sider any racial discrimination and hostility on eth­nic and religious grounds, regardless of where they occur, as a crime against humanity. Our government will continue to pursue activities for an objective as­sessment to be given to the Khojaly genocide and to the Armenian occupation of the Azerbaijani lands, and to restore the historical and legal justice. We will use all necessary political and legal means to wage an uncompromising struggle against such phenomena.

By perpetrating the Khojaly genocide, the enemy intended to break the will of the Azerbaijani people, to force us to abandon the struggle for our sovereign ty and territorial integrity and to forcibly seize our lands. But this horrendous tragedy has made our nation even more persistent, mobilized our heroic sons and daughters for a decisive and organized fight in the name of the sacred Motherland and na­tional statehood.

On this national day of mourning I am paying tribute to the innocent victims of the Khojaly tragedy and asking God to repose the souls of all our mar­tyrs. I want to assure you that sooner or later those who perpetrated the Khojaly genocide will answer before the court of justice and will be punished worth­ly. The blood of our martyrs will be avenged…