POLITICS
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF AZERBAIJAN TO UNITED NATIONS SENT A LETTER TO SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ORGANIZATION
Baku, February 24 (AZERTAC). Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the United Nations Agshin Mehdiyev sent a letter to Secretary General of the organization Ban Ki-moon. The letter runs: “As a result of continued confrontation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the fifth part of the Azerbaijan territory was occupied, and by the estimations, one of each eight Azerbaijanis became an internally displaced person, or refugee. During this conflict, the enemy has committed heaviest international crimes, such as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide”.
The Permanent Representative further writes: “In February 1992, the Azerbaijani townsmen of Khojaly were subjected to unprecedented cruelty. During this massacre which became known as the Khojaly genocide, thousand Azerbaijanis have been killed or taken prisoner, the city has been wiped out. In the night from 25 to 26 February, 1992, the Armenian armed forces with assistance of 366th motor-rifle regiment of the former USSR, staff of which consisted mainly of Armenians, have attacked to Khojaly. Inhabitants of Khojaly who remained in the city on this tragic night, have tried to leave the houses after the beginning of storm of city, hoping to go to the near areas inhabited by Azerbaijanis. However, it was not possible. Aggressors have destroyed Khojaly and with special cruelty have killed its peaceful population. As a result, 613 inhabitants have been killed, including 106 women, 63 children and 70 old. 1000 people have been wounded and 1275 were taken hostages. Destiny of 150 inhabitants of Khojaly is not known up to now.
... Law enforcement bodies of Azerbaijan have sufficient information on the happenings, and besides, responsibility of Armenia is confirmed by documents of numerous independent sources and eyewitnesses of this tragedy.
The western mass media have informed on massacre of the innocent people of Khojaly as a result of a gun-fire, and other severe acts”.
The letter further says: “The genocide in Khojaly and other grave crimes made during the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, involve the state responsibility of Armenia and the individual criminal liability of those who participated in implementation of these acts, and their helpers and accomplices.
...Impunity suppression has essentially great value not only to bring to account the culprits for grave crimes, but also to ensure peace, establishment of truth, reconciliation and protection of the rights of victims.”
Ambassador Mehdiyev expresses in advance gratitude to the addressee for distribution of this letter as a document of UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council.