Khojaly genocide was commemorated in Rome

With the organization of the Embassies of Azerbaijan in Italy and the Holy See, an event dedicated to the 32^nd anniversary of the Khojaly genocide was held in the "Santa Maria della Mercede" church in Rome.

At the event attended by representatives of Italy and the Vatican, heads of the diplomatic corps, and Azerbaijanis living and studying in this country, the victims of the Khojaly genocide, as well as those who died in the struggle for the territorial integrity of our country, were remembered and prayers were read for their souls.

Our country's ambassador to Italy, Rashad Aslanov, said that the Khojaly massacre was the most serious war crime in the Garabagh war and one of the most terrible massacres in modern European history. He noted that 613 people, including 63 children, were mercilessly killed in one night in the Khojaly genocide, which was one of the cruelest acts of ethnic violence committed against the civilian population at the end of the last century.

The diplomat said that various countries and parliaments condemned the Khojaly tragedy and adopted resolutions recognizing it as genocide.

It was brought to attention that this year, for the first time, the memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide is commemorated in the entire territory of our country, and after 32 years, the Azerbaijani flag is flying in Khojaly. Our country is implementing extensive restoration and reconstruction projects in all its liberated territories, including Khojaly. Like residents of other regions, the people of Khojaly will soon return to their native land.

The ambassador said that he believes that justice will be prevailed for Khojaly one day and that the international community should support the call for Justice for Khojaly so that such serious crimes do not happen again in the future.

In the cultural part of the event, classical music compositions, including Azerbaijani songs, were performed by the Italian orchestra "Orchestra dell'Accademia Sannita".