\u2026Over the past two centuries, the Armenian bigots, in an effort to materialize their dream of \u201cGreat Arme\u00adnia\u201d 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 cen\u00adtury right in front of the eyes of the entire world, was distinguished for the particular brutality and ruth\u00adlessness and has become the bloodiest page of this aggressive policy. The political and legal responsi\u00adbility for this grave crime rests directly on them and current leaders of Armenia, on the separatist Moun\u00adtainous Garabagh regime.<\/p>\n
For nearly 20 years Azerbaijan has been carry\u00ading out a specific and systematic work to inform the world community of the Khojaly tragedy perpetrat\u00aded by the Armenian fascists and to have it be recog\u00adnized on the international arena as a genocide. In the\u00a0 recent years, as a part of the international campaign \u201cJustice for Khojaly\u201d, numerous institutions of civil society, youth and Diaspora organizations represent\u00ading our compatriots together with the government agencies have been carrying out productive activities in this area. The true face of the Armenian propagan\u00adda machine, built on lies and falsifications, is already being exposed, the global public opinion has begun to perceive the truth about Khojaly. The Parliamenta\u00adry Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has recognized this fact as \u201ca massive crime against humanity\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
Currently, the Republic of Azerbaijan is playing an important role in the global security system and in the fight against international terrorism. We con\u00adsider any racial discrimination and hostility on eth\u00adnic and religious grounds, regardless of where they occur, as a crime against humanity. Our government will continue to pursue activities for an objective as\u00adsessment 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.<\/p>\n
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 na\u00adtional statehood.<\/p>\n
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 mar\u00adtyrs. 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 worth\u00adly. The blood of our martyrs will be avenged\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2026Over the past two centuries, the Armenian bigots, in an effort to materialize their dream of \u201cGreat Arme\u00adnia\u201d 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 cen\u00adtury … Continue reading Address of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide \u2013 Baku, February 23, 2012<\/span>