Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 25 / Trend E. Rustamov /
Azerbaijan informed the new U.S. Administration of Khojali genocide.
The letter containing detailed information on the tragedy was sent to the U.S. President Barack Obama's office by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Youth and Sport, Minister of Youth and Sport Azad Ragimov told media on Feb. 25.
Obama was elected President in November 2008. His inauguration was held on Jan. 20.
The letter followed reply with thanks for given information of these events, the Minister said.
Armenia's military bands conducted act of genocide in Khojali with 7,000 population on Feb. 26,1 992.
Approximately 3,000 citizens remained in Khojali during capture by military bands. Most people had to leave Khojali because of blockade lasting more than four months. During Khojali genocide, over 613 Azerbaijani citizens were killed, 1,000 were left disabled as a result of wounds. Among them were 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people. 8,000 families were completely destroyed, 25 children lost their parents, 130 - one of the parents. On the night of tragedy 1,275 people were taken prisoner. The fate of 150 people remains unknown.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
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