Armenian
National Committee of Canada
Comité
National Arménien du Canada
Tel./Tél. (613) 235-2622
E-mail/Courriel:[email protected]
www.anccanada.org
-PRESS RELEASE-
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sevag Belian (613) 235-2622
Azeri Crimes
Remain Unpunished After Thirty Years of Bloodshed
ANCC Statement on the 30th
Anniversary of the Sumgait Masacre
Ottawa — Thirty years ago, this week, Azerbaijani authorities organized
and systematically committed the mass pogroms and massacres against the peaceful
Armenian population of Sumgait. In what was seen as a response to the peaceful
manifestation of Artsakh Armenians for self-determination, dozens of Armenians
were brutally killed or detained, beaten and tortured.
The Sumgait massacre was the first ethnic cleansing campaign that Azeri
nationalists committed since the onset of the Karabakh movement which fueled
further bloody episodes of ethic cleansings perpetrated by Azeri authorities in
Kirovabad, Mingechaur, Baku and elsewhere around Azerbaijan.
“Instead of facing their history and repenting for their monstrous crimes,
Azerbaijani authorities spare no effort today to deny their past and shift the
international community’s attention in order to escape responsibility” said
Shahen Mirakian, president of the Armenian National Committee of Canada.
The massacre claimed the lives of over 36 innocent Armenian men, women
and children. Internationally renowned media sources including the New York
Times, Washington Post, and many others reported about these heinous crimes
committed by Azeri nationalists.
“The international community’s silence is what further encouraged Azeri
nationalists to perpetrate their crimes and instill hatred and discrimination
against Armenians in the region” said Shahen Mirakian.
As a result of lack of monitoring and international pressure, to this
day, Azerbaijan remains committed to its campaign of aggression against
Armenians by constantly violating the current ceasefire regime and by making
outrageous threats of attacking Armenia proper itself.
"It is the international community's
responsibility to put an end to Aliyev's bellicose war-mongering and aggression
that not only is threatening the political stability of the region, but also
causing serious consequences for global peace and security" concluded
Mirakian.
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The ANCC is the largest and the most influential
Armenian-Canadian grassroots human rights organization. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances the
concerns of the Armenian-Canadian community on a broad range of issues and
works to eliminate abuses of human rights throughout Canada and the world.
