Tokyo, February 2 (AZERTAC). Azerbaijan`s Ambassador in Tokyo Gursel Ismayilzade has made a presentation at Citizen School think tank on the invitation of Japanese MP from ruling Liberal Democratic Party Haruyasu Tateishi.

Ismayilzade is the first foreign diplomat to speak at “Citizen School”, which was founded by Tateishi.

The audience at the event included Japanese parliamentarians, businessmen and public figures.

The Ambassador congratulated the audience on Tokyo`s winning the bid to host 2020 Summer Olympic Games.

Ismayilzade said that Baku was also one of the bidders for the 2020 Games. He noted Azerbaijan`s capital would host inaugural European Games in 2015.

The Ambassador highlighted Azerbaijan`s history, domestic and foreign policy, as well as economic achievements.

He said Azerbaijan had stable political system due to efforts of the country`s leadership.

The diplomat hailed effective economic reforms conducted under President Ilham Aliyev, adding “a favorite investment atmosphere” had been created in the country.

Ismayilzade spoke of the presidential election held on October 9, 2013 in Azerbaijan. The Ambassador said the election was held in a free, fair and transparent manner, and met international standards.

The diplomat said Azerbaijan enjoyed good cooperative relations with its neighbors - Turkey and Georgia, adding these counties together with Azerbaijan played a key role in realizing important international projects.

He stressed that Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict impeded overall development of the region. Ismayilzade said Armenia occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan`s lands and made over one million people refugees and IDPs. The Ambassador highlighted the history, reasons and consequences of the conflict, as well as the current state talks to find a peaceful solution to the dispute. He said because of unconstructive position of Armenia`s authorities, the country remains out of the regional integration processes.

The diplomat also spoke of Azerbaijan`s oil and gas projects, as well as the government`s efforts to develop the non-oil sector.

The Ambassasdor`s presentation also covered Azerbaijan`s accomplishments in foreign policy, with focus made on the country`s membership in the UN Security Council in 2012-2013.

On Azerbaijan-Japan relations, the Ambassador said the two countries had reached a good level of cooperation.

The diplomat also touched upon the 20 January tragedy, saying hundreds of innocent people were killed by the Soviet soldiers in Baku in 1990. “The heavy-handed crackdown resulted in indiscriminate killing of some 147 civilians with more than 700 injured and many others went missing. During the tragedy the courageous sons of the Azerbaijani people who stood up for the motherland’s dignity, honor and freedom became martyrs.” He said this year marks the 24th anniversary of the Black January tragedy, military invasion and indiscriminate killing of civilians in the city of Baku by the Soviet troops on 19-20 January 1990.

Ismayilzade raised awareness of the audience about the Khojaly genocide committed by Armenian armed forces on 26 February, 1992. The ambassador stressed that one of the most horrible tragedies, which Azerbaijan experienced in the 20th century, was the Khojaly genocide. “It is like the genocides committed in Khatyn, Lidisia, Oradur.”

“In the early hours of February 26, the armed forces of Armenia, the armed Armenian militants of the Nagorno-Karabakh, and Motorized-Infantry Battalion No.366 of the former Soviet Union dislocated between Askaran and Khankendi (Stepanakert) occupied the town and committed genocide against Azerbaijanis. On that night, when Armenians committed genocide in Khojaly, 613 peaceful residents were murdered with a special cruelty, tortured, beheaded and blinded. Pregnant women were bayoneted; among them were 63 children, 106 women and 70 elderly people.”

MP Tateishi praised Azerbaijan`s achievements. He stressed the importance of the bilateral economic cooperation.