Amid Armenian genocide claims, Turkey commemorates Khojali 'genocide'

Yazicioglu also told that while the Armenian diaspora unleash accusations against Turkey for so-called Armenian genocide claims, they try to suppress killing of 613 civil Azerbaijanis.

Also on Sunday, participants to a panel organized by Turkish Houses Ankara Branch and Azerbaijan Culture Association shared the view that what the Armenian armed forces did in Khojali in 1992 was truly genocide, in a move to counter Armenian claims that Turks committed genocide against them in the World War I.

Turkan Hacaloglu, the head of the Turkish Houses Ankara Branch, said that the Khojali massacre is the most convenient proof that Armenians made genocide against Turks both in Anatolia and Karabakh.

Accusing Turkey of remaining passive in the aftermath of the incident, Hacaloglu said that Turkey just delivered a note to the Armenian adding it pursued a timorous and fainthearted policy.

Turkey National Security Strategies Research Center (TUSAM) head Ali Kulebi also accused Turkey of its ignorant policy adding that Turkey failed to extend a helping hand to the Azerbaijani people. "This is a mistake which should be questioned," he said, adding that the massacre has gave the proof of the ugly face of the West, which appears as the pioneer and the chief advocate of the justice and human rights.

He also called Khojali and Karabakh massacres incidents marking the ambition of Armenians to extend their borders.

Speaking for his part, Ankara's Hacettepe University Academic Cihat Ozonder said that Armenians are used by imperialist states as a tool in the Khojali massacre. He also added that while Turkey has opened its archives to encourage objective researchers to carry out research into so-called Armenian genocide claims, neither Russia nor Armenia allow access to theirs.

Sinan Ogan, head of Turkey International Relations and Strategic Analysis Center (TURK-SAM), called the incident genocide in terms of international law, and added that Turkey, academics and intellectuals should make the issue to be debated in international platforms.

Arabaslik: Abdi Ipekci Park fills with hundreds commemorating massacre

In related news, Ankara's Abdi Ipekci Park was filled with crowds on Sunday protesting the massacre.

The demonstration, co-organized by Turkish World Human Rights Association and Azerbaijani Students and Alumni Group, was also attended by Confederation of Public Worker Labor Unions (Kamu-Sen), Turkish Metal Industry Workers Labor Union, Eastern Turkistan Culture and Solidarity Association and youth groups of both the BBP and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

Kamu-Sen head Bircan Akyildiz called on the government to recognize the Khojali massacre as genocide and raise the issue at international platforms.

His call also shared by Hasan Celal Guzel, a former state minister of late president Turgut Ozal, who said that Turkish Parliament should work to make Turkey's allies to recognize the incident as genocide.

"Turkey should avoid establishing official ties with Armenia since it gives an account for the genocide and leave the Azerbaijani territory, he added.

Turkish World human Rights Association head Abdullah Buksur claimed that Armenian President Robert Kocharian ordered the genocide adding that the issue should be brought before special courts.

The group dispersed without a hitch after the addresses.

/The New Anatolian/