Arminfo
2007-02-24 21:49:00

Armenian Genocide continues: former ombudsman of Armenia

The mass murders of Armenians in Sumgait in February 1998 shouldn’t be
considered separately from the Armenian Genocide in 1915, Larisa
Alaverdyan, the Director of the "Against Legal Violence" public
organization and the former ombudsman of Armenia, said during a
press-conference, Saturday.

According to L.Alaverdyan, the events in Sumgait are the consequence
of disregarding the ethnic ground murders committed by the Young Turks
government in the Ottoman Empire. Armenians face ethnic cleansing even
in time of peace because they haven’t determined their policy of
recognizing the Armenian Genocide so far, she noted. In this context,
she pointed out that the lack of Armenian community in Azerbaijan
proves that it is dangerous for Armenians to live on the territory of
Azerbaijan. She added that the destruction of the Armenian cultural
heritage on the Azeri territory is not accidental either. While the
Azeri government announces that no ethnic ground murders were ever
committed in their country, even the life of cultural monuments in
Azerbaijan depends on their "nationality", L.Alaverdyan said. She
emphasized that bringing Azerbaijan to responsibility for propaganda
of xenophobia, racism and violence against the Armenian nation, and
resuming the judicial investigation concerning the organizers and
performers of the Armenian pogroms in Sumgait and Baku are still
issues of current importance. The Armenian Genocide has lasted for 90
years, she noted.

To remind, the ethnic cleansing policy conducted in Azerbaijan against
the Armenian minority since February 1988 forced 360 thsd people to
escape from the Azeri cities of Sumgait. Gyanja, Baku and 311 other
populated areas, and find refuge in Armenia. To note, February 28 is
the Day of memory of the Sumgait tragedy’s victims.