Azernews.Az

Hawaii has become the 19^th U.S. State to condemn the Khojaly Massacre, as well as recognize and honor its innocent victims.

David Ige, Governor of the U.S. State of Hawaii has signed a Special Message condemning the Khojaly Massacre, which was committed by Armenia’s armed forces against the Azerbaijani civilians in 1992.

This special message of recognition is the first official document in Hawaii concerning the Khojaly Massacre, the Azerbaijani Consulate General in Los Angeles reported on February 15.

“On behalf of the people of Hawaii, I wish to express my deepest sympathies for the pain, suffering and loss of life that transpired 24 years ago,” the Hawaii governor said in the message. “As you gather to commemorate the tragedy that occurred in Khojaly, it is important to remember those who have suffered from senseless violence.”

In 1992, the Armenian military, together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops stationed in Khankendi, committed genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. Among those 613 killed in the massacre, there were 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people.

Eight families were totally exterminated, 130 children lost one parent and 25 children lost both. A total of 487 civilians became disabled as a result of the onslaught. Some 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people still remains unknown.

The tragedy became the largest massacre in the course of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts from Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced as a result of the war.

Large-scale hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire in 1994, but Armenia has continued the occupation in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal.

Peace talks mediated by Russia, France, and the U.S. have produced no results so far.