Eduard Sharmazanov: Armenians in Baku were slaughtered because of their nationality
Continuing meetings between Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers suggest there's progress in the Karabakh conflict settlement. Newly scheduled meetings also signal both Armenia and Azerbaijan's readiness to support the peace process, following the adoption of December 2 declaration in Athens, RPA parliamentary group secretary Eduard Sharmazanov said.
Yet, as he told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, Karabakh conflict won't be resolved soon.
As to Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan, Sharmazanov noted that Armenian Foreign Minister has long ago put special emphasis on the issue during negotiations with Azerbaijan. "Baku was thought to be an international city, yet thousands of Armenians were slaughtered because of their nationality," he stressed.
Commenting on the reporter's question on the best way to increase new generation's awareness of the issue, Sharmazanov said that media, social organizations and politicians have to take action to that end.
In January 1990, Azerbaijani authorities instigated the Armenian pogroms in Baku. Some 400 Armenians were killed and 200 thousand were exiled in the period of January 13-19. The exact number of those killed was never determined, as no investigation was carried out into the crimes.
On January 13, a crowd numbering 50 thousand people divided into groups and started "cleaning" the city of Armenians. On January 17, the European Parliament called on EU Council of Foreign Ministers and European Council to protect Armenians and render assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. On January 18, a group of U.S. Senators sent a letter to Mikhail Gorbachev to express concerns over the violence against the Armenian population in Azerbaijan and called for unification of Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia.
Yet, as he told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, Karabakh conflict won't be resolved soon.
As to Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan, Sharmazanov noted that Armenian Foreign Minister has long ago put special emphasis on the issue during negotiations with Azerbaijan. "Baku was thought to be an international city, yet thousands of Armenians were slaughtered because of their nationality," he stressed.
Commenting on the reporter's question on the best way to increase new generation's awareness of the issue, Sharmazanov said that media, social organizations and politicians have to take action to that end.
In January 1990, Azerbaijani authorities instigated the Armenian pogroms in Baku. Some 400 Armenians were killed and 200 thousand were exiled in the period of January 13-19. The exact number of those killed was never determined, as no investigation was carried out into the crimes.
On January 13, a crowd numbering 50 thousand people divided into groups and started "cleaning" the city of Armenians. On January 17, the European Parliament called on EU Council of Foreign Ministers and European Council to protect Armenians and render assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. On January 18, a group of U.S. Senators sent a letter to Mikhail Gorbachev to express concerns over the violence against the Armenian population in Azerbaijan and called for unification of Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia.
