STEPANAKERT (ANIS)–The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central Committee of Artsakh issued a n announcement Tuesday oin the upcoming ninth anniversary of the brutal pogroms perpetrated by the Azeri OMON forces. Below is a translated text of that announcement.
The massacre of Armenia’s of Sumgait perpetrated on February 28–1988–a manifestation of the Azeri government’s anti-Armenian policy–represents one of the most horrific chapters of 20th century history.
From 1918-1920–during the period prior to sovietization–Azerbaijan carried out a policy of annihilation of Armenia’s and other groups in an attempt to rid the region of it indigenous population and repopulate it with Azeris and Turks. Seventy years later–the brutal massacres and pogroms in Sumgait were the continuation of that policy–which soon spread to Gyandza–Baku–Shahumian and Getashen.
In response to this brutality–the people of Karabakh declared their independence–in accordance with the Soviet Constitution and within all legal norms. The declaration of independence was the only option available to the Armenia’s of Karabakh threatened with mass deportation and annihilation. The government of Azerbaijan continued to pursue it genocidal policy by launching a massive offensive against the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic from 1991-1994–once again demonstrating that a perpetrator of genocide cannot be a guarantor of peace.
The decisions adopted by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and other international mediating groups regarding the resolution of the Karabakh conflict are–thereby–unacceptable.
The proposed document regarding the peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict–drafted in accordance to European standards and accepted by highly civilized countries–will not only not guarantee peace–but will bring about regional instability–jeopardizing the fragile economic cooperation in place.
The ARF Central Committee of Artsakh–by drawing attention to the 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turks and the 1918-1920 and 1988-1994 brutal massacres and pogroms against the indigenous population of Karabakh by Azerbaijan in an attempt to deprive the Armenian people of the right to self-determination–pledges to struggle to secure reparations for the injustices committed.
ARF Central Committee Of Artsakh
February 25–1997
