DECLARATION ON CONDEMNATION OF SUMGAYIT SLAUGHTERS ADOPTED, WHICH WILL BE INTRODUCED TO UN

Noyan Tapan
Feb 28, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, NOYAN TAPAN. On the initiative of ARFD and a
number of intellectuals, on February 28, a commemoration procession to
the Memorial Complex of Tsitsernakaberd was held. The procession was
dedicated to the 20th anniversary of mass slaughters of Armenians in
the Azeri town of Sumgayit. RA deputies, political and public figures
took part in the procession. They laid wreaths to the memorial of
Armenian martyrs, who perished in Sumgayit.

Vladimir Movsisian, an Adviser to the RA Prime Minister, said that
the Azeri authorities barbarically killed their citizens only because
they were Armenians by nation. Today, according to him, the Azeri
authorities by all means misrepresent history and try to condemn the
genocide, which allegedly happened in Khojalu.

RA MP Artashes Shahbazian stated that the Armenian people should not
only remember its victims, but also continue demanding restoration
of justice.

"20 years have passed since this slaughter, but this event has not
received a deserved estimation by the international community so
far. While our neighbors are rather active and by all means try at
different instances to present the victim as the executioner and the
executioner as the victim," the deputy mentioned.

Writer, publicist Zori Balayan said that the organizers of the
procession have adopted a declaration condemning the Sumgayit events,
which will be presented to the UN Security Council.