Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 23 /Trend/
On Wednesday, Bundestag (the German Parliament) hosted an event entitled "Crimes against humanity are not forgotten. In memory of the victims of Khojali massacre and the aggression against Azerbaijan" dedicated to the 19th anniversary of Khojali tragedy, the Azerbaijani Embassy in Berlin reported.
The event was held by the Society for the development of German-Azerbaijani relations (GeFDAB) with the support of the Embassy of Azerbaijan.
Speaking before the guests, Bundestag MP Axel Fischer noted that as a result of atrocities committed against women, children and the elderly in Khojali, the city had been wiped off the map. He stressed that international organizations, including PACE do recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan.
Another German MP, Peter Beyer, stressed in his speech the importance of more active participation of the European Union in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Germany Parviz Shahbazov said that the Azerbaijani side accepted the latest proposals of OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and is waiting for Armenia's response to them. Shahbazov noted the need for political assessment of Khojali tragedy.
The Armenian military forces committed genocide in Khojaly on Feb. 26, 1992. More than 600 people were killed, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old men. A total of 1,000 civilians were disabled during the genocide. Eight families were annihilated, 130 children lost one parent, and 25 lost both. Additionally, 1,275 peaceful residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 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 United States - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.