U.S. congressman: Sumgait pogroms were masterminded with special brutalityFebruary 27, 2012 - 18:55 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. congressman, Democratic Party member David Cicilline issued a statement honoring the memory of the victims of Sumgait pogroms. “Armenians in Sumgait became victims of systematic massacre in 1988. Sumgait pogroms were masterminded with special brutality,” he said. According to him, the day honors the memory “not only of the victims of Sumgait pogroms, but also the victims of massacres in Baku and Kirovabad. The congressman further stressed the necessity of struggle against discrimination, “regardless of the place it broke out.” The Sumgait Pogrom The Sumgait Pogrom was the Azeri-led pogrom that targeted the Armenian population living in the Azerbaijani seaside town of Sumgait in February 1988. On February 27, 1988, large mobs made up of Azeris formed into groups that went on to attack and kill Armenians in both on the streets and in their apartments; widespread looting and a general lack of concern from police officers allowed the situation to worsen. The violent acts in Sumgait were unprecedented in scope in the Soviet Union and attracted a great deal of attention from the media in the West. The massacre came in light of the Nagorno-Karabakh movement that was gaining traction in the neighbouring Armenia SSR. Top stories The CSTO budget for the current year requires adjustments due to the refusal of Yerevan to pay their share of contributions. Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. Partner news | Armenia Defense Minister travels to France A delegation headed by Defense Minister Suren Papikyan will travel to France, according to a statement from the Defense Ministry. Armenia, U.S. talk defense, security matters Secretary of the Armenian Security Council Armen Grigoryan met with U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. Armenia, Ukraine discuss bilateral relations Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council Armen Grigoryan met with Ukrainian Foreign Dmytro Kuleba on June 16. Pashinyan defends demarcation at meeting with more border residents Nikol Pashinyan met with the residents of the border village of Shikahogh in Armenia's southern Syunik province. |