Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 19 / Trend S. Agayeva /
Member of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Columbian Parliament Alexandra Piraquive has sent a letter to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Parliament Speaker Oqtay Asadov expressing the solidarity of the Columbian people in connection with the Khojaly genocide, spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Elman Abdullayev said at a briefing today.
"The letter also expresses deep condolences to the Azerbaijani people in connection with the Khojaly genocide," Abdullayev said.
In the letter, the Colombian senator stressed the importance of preventing such a tragedy in the future, he said.
Abdullayev said that earlier, by its decision, the Columbian Senate condemned the Khojaly genocide and the perpetrators of the tragedy.
In April 2012 the Columbian Senate took a decision over the occupation of Azerbaijani territories and recognised Khojaly events as genocide.
"The number of countries recognising the Khojaly genocide is increasing," he said. "There is no doubt that their number will continue to increase. Perpetrators of this tragedy against humanity will respond to Azerbaijan and the world community and this is one of directions of Baku's foreign policy."
On Feb. 25-26 February, 1992, Armenian occupation forces together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops stationed in Khankendi (previously known as Stepanakert) committed an act of genocide towards the population of the Azerbaijani Khojaly town.
Some 613 people were killed including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old men. A total of 1000 civilians were left disabled during the genocide. Eight families were killed, 130 children lost one parent and 25 lost both. Additionally, 1275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 remains unknown.