Azerbaijan, Baku, March 29 / Trend A.Huseynbala /
The Azerbaijani MPs believe appropriate steps should be taken for recognition of the massacres of Azerbaijanis committed by Armenians in 1918 as genocide.
"The Armenians did not stop at committing Khojali genocide because of the absence of international legal assessment to the massacre committed in 1918 in Baku and other regions of the country," head of the pro-governmental Ana Vatan party, MP Zahid Oruj, said.
In March 1918, Stepan Shaumyan's Dashnak-Bolshevik government seized power and launched genocide against the Azeri people.
In March to April, ethnic Azerbaijanis were slaughtered in Baku, Shamakhi and other regions. During this period, Turkey offered assistance to Azerbaijan and rescued the people from being killed by Armenians.
Armenian military forces committed genocide acts in the town of Khojali, Azerbaijan, with the population of 7,000 people on Feb. 26 1992. There were 3,000 people in the town at the time of Armenian military forces' attack. Most part of the population had to leave town during four months blockade. 613 people were killed, 1,000 peaceful people of different age became invalid during Khojali genocide. 106 women, 63 children, 70 old men were killed. 8 families were completely annihilated, 130 children lost one parents, while 25 both of them. 1,275 peace residents were taken hostages, while the fate of 150 of them is still unknown.
Under the decree signed by National Leader Heydar Aliyev in 1998, March 31 is marked as the Day of Azerbaijanis Genocide.
Oruj said Armenians committed massacre in Baku and various regions of Azerbaijan in 1918.
"We certainly should raise these questions with more serious needs. I think that at this stage, when the entire international advocacy in connection with the so-called "Armenian genocide" increased, we have to increasingly draw world attention to the events of the March Massacre," he added.
If the Armenians achieve its objectives in connection with the so-called "Armenian genocide", then it will adversely affect Azerbaijan's efforts in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, he believes.
Given all this, Azerbaijan together with Turkey should prepare programs for conveying information about the genocide in Azerbaijan.
"This should not be perceived as a response to Armenia's statements on the so-called "Armenian genocide". We must include these events in textbooks, conduct various international scientific activities. Lobbying organizations of Azerbaijan and Turkey also play an important role in this regard," he added.
"We must intensify our propaganda to attract more world attention to the genocide committed by Armenians in March 1918," Scientist-historian, MP Jamil Hasanli, told Trend today.
According to him, a book dedicated to the March genocide was published with the support of the National Security Ministry in 2009.
"I think this is one of the successful steps taken to inform the world public about these events. Based on National Leader Heydar Aliyev's decree, March 31 is marked as Day of Genocide. Books devoted to this massacre are distributed and the events on the genocide are held abroad," he added.
The MP said the parliament appealed to the parliaments and peoples of the world in connection with this genocide.
"All that are needed in this regard has been done, but lobbying organizations of Azerbaijan and Turkey should work together for the recognition of the March 31 events as genocide by the world. I think that in this case, Armenian may give up the so-called "Armenian genocide", he added.
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