Int'l coalition calls for recognising Khojaly genocide at UN

The statement made by the “Recognition for Reconciliation” international coalition was distributed as a document of the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council.

The session will begin on February 27, Trend reports.

According to the statement:

• Justice and peace must go hand in hand, only this gives impetus to resolve conflicts and eliminate the consequences of war crimes and mass violations of international law, only this is the key to a solid foundation for the coming peace;

• This is important to remember on the eve of the tragic anniversary of the massacre in Khojaly, once a city with over 6,000 people. The Armenian armed forces captured the city and brutally killed 613 civilians, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people, severely injured 487 people on the night of February 26, 1992;

• According to the European Court of Human Rights’ decision dated April 22, 2010, the actions of those responsible for the Khojaly massacre are characterised as “heinous acts that can lead to war crimes or crimes against humanity”. At the same time, the national legislative bodies of 17 countries, as well as a number of international organisations, qualify the massacre of civilians in Khojaly as a crime against humanity and an act of genocide; 
  
  
• It is regrettable that the process of abandoning the legacy of the previous corrupt administration in Armenia did not affect the approach to the issue of the Khojaly tragedy, a crime in which the former leaders of the country were directly involved;

• As the leaders of both Armenia and Azerbaijan have recently declared their readiness to turn the page and start an “era of peace in the region”, the time has come for authoritative international mediation, primarily, at the level of civil society, to end impunity and silence, restore justice for Khojaly, and help the public in both countries overcome the shadow of the tragedy through recognition, dialogue and final reconciliation;
  
  
• In this regard, the goals of the “Recognition for Reconciliation” coalition are to promote direct dialogue between Azerbaijanis and Armenians aimed at overcoming the consequences of the conflict and jointly finding ways to reconciliation and sustainable peace;
   
• Armenia's proper recognition of the Khojaly massacre and public apology to the victims; and encouraging Azerbaijan to open public space for direct dialogue on (this) issue between the civil societies of the two countries would be an important cornerstone in reconciliation efforts (of the sides); 
• Simple acknowledging of the past wrongs is important for the further peace. The denial of a crime leads to its rationalisation and thus "normality" in public perception.

The coalition was created by a number of human rights organisations from Italy, France, Hungary and Denmark.

It also includes such well-known public figures in the field of human rights protection as the president of the Mothers of Srebrenica organisation and the former OSCE Rapporteur on Religious Minorities.

The coalition was formed during a transitional justice conference held in the Italian Senate in March 2022.

The coalition announced its intention to promote the dialogue between the civil societies of Azerbaijan and Armenia, aimed at overcoming the collective psychological trauma as a result of the conflict past.