Azerbaijan commemorates victims of battles in Shusha

Today in Baku, from morning people are visiting the memorial to those who perished in the struggle for the defence of the territorial integrity and independence of Azerbaijan; in memory of those who perished 21 years ago during the fights in the city of Shusha in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Karabakh Liberation Organization held a political action at the memorial and burned down the flag of Armenia.

At night on May 8, 1992, Armenian armed forces conducted an operation to capture the city of Shusha - the largest Azerbaijani dwelling settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh. According to the official data of the Azerbaijani party, the fight in defence of Shusha claimed 195 lives of Azerbaijanis; 165 persons were wounded and 58 persons more were captured as prisoners or hostages. 23,000 residents were forced to leave the city and the Shusha District.

Actions to commemorate the casualties were held in the regions of the country. Today, among the first to visit the Baku memorial to those killed in the struggle for the territorial integrity and independence of Azerbaijan were the members of the public association "Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh".

"We'll return to our homeland by all means. Should it turn impossible through peaceful means and negotiations, then, Azerbaijan has a modern and powerful army; and the people of Azerbaijan are ready to decide on their own destiny and solve their own problems," said Bayram Safarov, the head of the above association and the chief executive of the Shusha District.

At the same time, he indicated a possibility of peaceful coexistence of the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan.

Bayram Safarov also declared the readiness of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh to hold dialogue with the Armenian counterparts.

"Unfortunately, so far, members of the Armenian community avoid meeting; however, I believe that such meetings are possible in the future," he said.

In their turn, activists of the Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) held an improvised rally at the memorial and burnt down a flag of Armenia.

The leader of the KLO Akif Nagi stated the "futility and senselessness of years of negotiations" and called on the Azerbaijani authorities to solve the problem in the military way.

The Cooperation Alliance of Azerbaijan NGOs, which unites about 50 public organizations of the country, has organized an event - within the campaign "Freedom to Shusha!" - at the commercial and business centre of Baku, dedicated to the 21st anniversary of the tragic events.

The organizers have informed the public about the campaign "Freedom to Shusha!" and presented an exhibition of works by young artists dedicated to Shusha.

According to the Armenian party, the capture of Shusha was caused by the fact that the city of Stepanakert was constantly shelled from there. A few days later, the Armenian armed forces captured Lachin; thereby, Nagorno-Karabakh obtained direct communication with Armenia through the Lachin corridor.