Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 15
Trend:
The Governor of the US State of Hawaii David Ige signed a Special Message condemning the Khojaly Massacre, which was committed by Armenia's armed forces against the Azerbaijani civilians in 1992, the message of Consulate General of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles said Feb. 15.
"On behalf of the people of Hawaii, I wish to express my deepest sympathies for the pain, suffering and loss of life that transpired 24 years ago," the Hawaii governor said in the message. "As you gather to commemorate the tragedy that occurred in Khojaly, it is important to remember those who have suffered from senseless violence."
This special message of recognition is the first official document in Hawaii concerning the Khojaly Massacre. Thus Hawaii has become the 19th US State to condemn the Khojaly Massacre, as well as recognize and honor its innocent victims.
On February 25-26, 1992, the Armenian military, together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops stationed in Khankendi, committed genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. Among those 613 killed in the massacre, there were 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people.
Eight families were totally exterminated, 130 children lost one parent and 25 children lost both. A total of 487 civilians became disabled as a result of the onslaught. Some 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people still remains unknown.
The event became the largest massacre in the course of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.