NO NATIONAL OR RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION IN AZERBAIJAN, BAKU SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.10.2007 16:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The Nagorno Karabakh problem is not connected with
national and religious discrimination," Azeri Milli Mejlis deputy
chairman Valeh Aleskerov said in his address to the BSEC committee
of culture, education and science.

There was never national, religious or ethnic discrimination in
Azerbaijan, he said.

"Azerbaijan was always tolerant toward other nations and religions. It
is obvious," he stated.

According to him, the "Nagorno Karabakh conflict was provoked by some
political groups wishing to come to power." "Presently, these forces
hamper the conflict resolution in order to maintain power," he said,
Trend news agency reports.

However, it worth reminding of the pogroms of Armenians in 1988. Dozens
of Armenians were slaughtered in Sumgait during three February days.

Official sources reported 52 victims. Some 14 thousand Armenians
had to flee Sumgait after the massacre, which came up as a brutal
response to the decision of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast
to secede from the Azerbaijani SSR and join the Armenian SSR.

The Sumgait massacres were followed by pogroms in Kirovobad, Baku
and Armenian-inhabited villages.