Baku, March 28 (AzerTAc). Visiting Turkey, Ali Hasanov, head of the Socio-Political Affairs Department at Azerbaijan`s Presidential Administration, has given an interview to TRT Avaz channel on the occasion of March 31 - the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis.
Hasanov said: “Every year, the 31st of March is marked as a day of genocide committed by Armenians against Turks, particularly Azerbaijani Turks over the last 200 years. Because March 31, 1918, is the date when Armenians perpetrated many massacres.” He said thousands of Azerbaijani Turks were killed just for their ethnic identity, houses were set on fire, and the people were burnt alive. “Architectural monuments, schools, hospitals, mosques and other buildings were destroyed, most of Baku turned into ruins. Genocide of Azerbaijanis was carried out in Baku, Shamakhi, Guba, Karabakh, Zangazur, Nakhchivan, Lankaran and other places with medieval barbarity. In February and March 1918, Armenians killed about 50,000 people in Baku, Shamakhi, Guba, Mugan, Lankaran and other cities of Azerbaijan.”
Hasanov noted that at that time the Turkish army came to help Azerbaijanis and liberated Baku from Dashnaks.
The Head of the Department said in accordance with President Heydar Aliyev`s decree dated March 26, 1998, the 31st of March was announced the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis.
Hasanov said people having bonds with Azerbaijan hold events all over the globe to commemorate victims of the genocide.
He also mentioned that some countries have already recognized the Khojaly genocide.
As part of the visit to Turkey, Hasanov also met Director General of TRT Ibrahim Sahin.