Diaspora

Home page

Diaspora

Azerbaijani Turks killed by Armenians commemorated in Alican village on Turkey-Armenia border â€“ UPDATED

Azerbaijani Turks killed by Armenians commemorated in Alican village on Turkey-Armenia border â€“ <font color=red>UPDATED </font>

22 April 2009 14:01 (UTC +04:00)

Igdir. Vugar Masimoglu â€“ APA. â€œCommemorative event of Azerbaijani Turks killed by Armenian Dashnak committees in Igdir in 1915-1918â€ has been held today in Alican village of Igdir, 1km far from Turkey-Armenia border, APAâ€™s correspondent sent to Turkey reports. The event near Alican checkpoint was attended by about 5000 people from various places of Igdir. The event was organized by Turkey-based Yerevan Turks Solidarity Society, Society for Struggle against Groundless Armenian Genocide Claims and Azerbaijan-based International Diaspora Center. Scientists and media representatives from Azerbaijan also attended the event. The delegation includes head of the International Diaspora Center Ismayil Agayev, professor Vagif Arzumanli and scientists investigating Armenian issue.

Ahiska Turks living in Igdir also participated in the demonstration. The demonstration started with the performance of Turkeyâ€™s March of Independence and Azerbaijanâ€™s national anthem.

Head of Society for Struggle against Groundless Armenian Genocide Claims Goksel Gurbey made a keynote speech at the event. He said that Armenians committed genocide in various regions of Anatolia in 1915-1918.
â€œOne of the places, where they committed slaughters more, is Igdir. 16 mass burial sites were found here. Mass burial sites in Oba, Hagmehmet, Gedikli and Tashburun were opened, genocide was proved,â€ he said.

Gurbey said the reports about the reopening of Turkey-Armenia borders raised right concern in Azerbaijan and called Azerbaijani Turks not to worry.
â€œThe borders will not open, unless Karabakh is released. We have not forgotten Oba, Hagmehmet, Khojaly genocides, nobody can forget it,â€ he said.

Head of Azerbaijanisâ€™ Solidarity Society Timur Selcuk said Igdir-Surmeli witnessed the biggest genocide facts.
â€œEvery year on April 24, Armenians discuss the so-called genocide claims in the parliaments, as if we, not they committed genocide against them. It happens because we fail to inform the world community about the realities. We should continue our way learning from these mistakes,â€ he said.

Selcuk added that the results of the local elections in Igdir were unpleasant.
â€œOur people clashed,â€ he said.

Head of the Azerbaijan-based International Diaspora Center Ismayil Aghayev said Armeniansâ€™ trait would kill off them. â€œThe Aghridagh, the mountain they see every morning, and Turkish flags are blow on them. Igdir community responds to the Armenian genocide claims with this pair of flags. Armenian will never commit genocide against the Turks once moreâ€.

Professor Vagif Arzumanli said Igdir took special place for Azerbaijan among the provinces of Turkey. â€œThose, who claim that Turkey killed one and half million of Armenians, can mislead the world community, but they canâ€™t mislead the scientists. We must prove to the world that it was Armenians to kill the Turksâ€.

Mayor of Garagoyunlu municipality Ziyadali Delikdash said Turkey couldnâ€™t make unilateral decision to open the borders with Armenia. â€œThe borders will not be opened until the withdrawal of Armenia from the occupied lands. U.S and European Union can be happy for the opening of borders, but we canâ€™tâ€.

Chairman of the Iravan Turks Solidarity Organziation Nureddin Aras said every year on April 24, the Armenians held campaign against Turkey to blemish its reputation in the world. He said we must raise our voice against it. â€œArmenians rebelled against the Ottoman Empire when it fought with seven countries and lost its lands in the three continents. The Ottoman Empire couldnâ€™t leave the rebels unpunished and exiled them. Some of the Armenians died in exile from the diseases and hard weather conditions, but they never faced with genocide. We are always ready to face with our history. If Armenia claims about genocide, it can open the archives in Yerevan and Moscow. If it doesnâ€™t open that, let it to be silentâ€.

The meeting was ended with a song dedicated to the Azerbaijan-Turkey friendship.