Khojaly park inaugurated, Khojaly martyrs memorial unveiled in Kayseri

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Turkish Erciyes University and Talas province municipality have organized "Dialogue in the modern world" conference, inauguration of a Khojaly park and the unveiling of a Khojaly memorial in the Turkish city of Kayseri.

The Azerbaijani President's Assistant for Public and Political Affairs-department head Ali Hasanov attended the events.

Prior to the conference, Azerbaijani, Turkish and Russian parliamentarians, professors and teachers of Erciyes University, NGO and media representatives viewed a photo exhibition reflecting the university's history.

Rector of Erciyes University Mustafa Çaliş highlighted the activities of the university.

Azerbaijan's ambassador in Turkey Khazar Ibrahim hailed the importance of the conference.

Members of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Irina Rodnina, Dmitry Savelyev, Oksana Pushkina and employee of the Duma Ramin Gasimov expressed their opinions on the topic.

Dmitry Savelyev said that Russia maintains warm relations with Azerbaijan, Turkey and Iran and pursues a multifaceted policy of cooperation. "In order to achieve more effective results of this policy it is important to cooperate in quadripartite format involving Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia and Iran," Savelyev underlined.

The Azerbaijani President's Assistant Ali Hasanov said that Azerbaijan and Turkey follow a policy of peace, progress and development. "Azerbaijan wants that that all states maintain friendly relations. "We are not interfering in the internal affairs of other countries and don't come out against their territorial integrity. Simultaneously we want all countries to be respectful for our territorial integrity and not to interfere in our internal affairs. All economic projects being implemented in Azerbaijan are aimed at comprehensive development of the region's countries. The trilateral and quadripartite platforms of cooperation initiated by Azerbaijan yield real results," the President's assistant underlined.

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A ceremony to inaugurate the Khojaly park and the memorial to the victims of Khojaly genocide then was held in Talas province municipality.

The participants observed a moment of silence for great leader Heydar Aliyev and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk as well as Khojaly victims.

Chairman of Talas province municipality Mustafa Palancioglu described Khojaly genocide as a crime against humanity. He said that those who committed this tragedy must stand before the international court. The head of municipality noted that 613 trees were planted in the park in memory of every Khojaly victim.

Dmitry Savelyev said that the monstrous tragedy against peaceful residents was committed in Khojaly 26 years ago. "613 innocent people were killed as a result of this crime. This is a genocide. Those who committed it have not yet been brought to justice," Dmitry Savelyev said. "We all have to make joint efforts in order to bring the truth about the Khojaly genocide to the whole world and ensure that those who committed this crime are punished."

"Foreign students studying in Turkey should influence senior officials of the states they represent and call on the parliaments of their countries in regard to Khojaly genocide. They should join awareness raising campaigns so that this kind of brutality does not go unpunished," Dmitry Savelyev added.

The Azerbaijani President's Assistant Ali Hasanov highlighted the horrors of Khojaly genocide. Ali Hasanov said for its scale and methodology Khojaly genocide is one of the most terrible crimes committed after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

This article was produced by AZERTAC and originally published at https://azertag.az/en/xeber/Khojaly_park_inaugurated_Khojaly_martyrs_memorial_unveiled_in_Kayseri-1206615