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SUMGAIT POGROMS FIRST ATTEMPT OF MILITARIZATION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT, ARMENIAN FM
ARKA
Feb 25, 2008
YEREVAN, February 25. /ARKA/. The Sumgait pogroms were the first
attempt to militarize the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Ra Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan stated at the international conference
"Problems of tolerance and xenophobia in the South Caucasus (Sumgait
20)" on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Sumgait pogroms.
"The Sumgait pogroms were the first attempt of militarizing the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the first manifestation of ethnic purge
in Azerbaijan," Oskanyan said.
According to him, but for the Sumgait events, the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict would have developed in a different way.
"That step marked the beginning of intolerance in the region, and the
ethnic purge, which had its consequences, is evident for everyone now,"
Oskanyan said.
The Minister pointed out that during their history Armenian people
has felt various manifestations of intolerance, including genocide.
Tolerance is not ideology for the Armenian people, but a way of
existence, Oskanyan said. "We hope that the discussions will allow
us to eradicate intolerance in the region," he said.
The Minister pointed out that intolerance and xenophobia have various
manifestations - from individual murders in Russia and other countries
to large-scale genocides.
"The Armenian people experienced that, we saw genocide, all the
manifestations of intolerance, which leaves a serious mark on small
people like Armenians. That is why we must be standard bearers in
the struggle against these manifestations, which is being done by
our diplomats now," Oskanyan said.
On February 26-29, 1988, with actual support of the Azerbaijani
authorities and with the connivance of the USSR leaders, Armenian
pogroms took place in Sumgait, Azerbaijan. According to the official
information, 32 people were killed and hundreds injured. Within a
few days, 14,000 Armenians left the city.
ARKA
Feb 25, 2008
YEREVAN, February 25. /ARKA/. The Sumgait pogroms were the first
attempt to militarize the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Ra Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan stated at the international conference
"Problems of tolerance and xenophobia in the South Caucasus (Sumgait
20)" on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Sumgait pogroms.
"The Sumgait pogroms were the first attempt of militarizing the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the first manifestation of ethnic purge
in Azerbaijan," Oskanyan said.
According to him, but for the Sumgait events, the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict would have developed in a different way.
"That step marked the beginning of intolerance in the region, and the
ethnic purge, which had its consequences, is evident for everyone now,"
Oskanyan said.
The Minister pointed out that during their history Armenian people
has felt various manifestations of intolerance, including genocide.
Tolerance is not ideology for the Armenian people, but a way of
existence, Oskanyan said. "We hope that the discussions will allow
us to eradicate intolerance in the region," he said.
The Minister pointed out that intolerance and xenophobia have various
manifestations - from individual murders in Russia and other countries
to large-scale genocides.
"The Armenian people experienced that, we saw genocide, all the
manifestations of intolerance, which leaves a serious mark on small
people like Armenians. That is why we must be standard bearers in
the struggle against these manifestations, which is being done by
our diplomats now," Oskanyan said.
On February 26-29, 1988, with actual support of the Azerbaijani
authorities and with the connivance of the USSR leaders, Armenian
pogroms took place in Sumgait, Azerbaijan. According to the official
information, 32 people were killed and hundreds injured. Within a
few days, 14,000 Armenians left the city.