Heydar Aliyev Foundation, led by Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, who pays huge attention to the problems of people and events ongoing in the community, regularly develops and carries out new projects in different spheres. The series ‘True facts about Garabagh’, which has recently been published, is of special importance among the projects implemented.
Objective of realization of this project, developed under leadership of Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, who as Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO directs in all the actions of this organization the attention of international community to the fact of occupation of 20% of Azerbaijani territory by Armenia by raising the problems concerning the education of children from refugee and IDP families and historical monuments destructed in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, is to deliver the truth about Garabagh, historical land of Azerbaijan, to the world community.
The series ‘True facts about Garabagh’ consists of five booklets:
‘Brief information of the history of Garabagh’;
‘The beginning of the Garabagh conflict’;
‘Activity of Armenian terrorist organizations against Azerbaijan’;
‘The Khojaly genocide’;
‘Consequences of Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan’.
‘True facts about Garabagh’, containing the facts on the history of Garabagh, the beginning of Armenia-Azerbaijan, Daghlig Garabagh conflict, the damage caused to our country by the conflict, Khojaly tragedy that our people will never forget, terrorist acts committed by Armenians in different points of the world, is designed for a wide range of audience and has been published in English, French, German, Russian and Hungarian languages.
The booklets, gracefully published in high polygraphic level, are rich with photos. All booklets contain the map of Azerbaijan which shows the territories of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia. Information about damage caused by the conflict, victims of occupation is available in the publication.
Booklet ‘Brief information of the history of Garabagh’ begins with the following words by Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO: ‘Word ‘Garabagh’ itself, which is translated from Azerbaijani as the ‘Black Garden’, proves that this land belongs to Azerbaijani historically. Garabagh has specific place and role in the history of Azerbaijan. This region of our country is one of the most ancient habitations in the world…’
The booklet provides brief information on history of Garabagh, saying Garabagh is one of the most ancient lands, not only in Azerbaijan’s history, but also in the history of the world. Throughout history Garabagh was an inseparable part of Azerbaijan. A few years after establishment of the Soviet State in Azerbaijan on 28 April 1920, as a result of targeted processes during the period of 1920-1923, Azerbaijani lands which were the part of the former Garabagh khanate lost their traditional historical and geographical integrity. Thus, Garabagh, inseparable part of Azerbaijan was artificially divided into the plain and mountainous parts. Armenian secessionists began to pursue their policy of separatism, thus inflicting severe damage on Azerbaijan. On the eve of collapse of USSR they intensified their actions and the war of aggression against Azerbaijan was launched.
Booklet ‘The beginning of the Garabagh conflict’ is opened with words ‘Armenians, who have repeatedly committed genocide against our people, lastly commenced an armed aggression against Azerbaijan in later XX century. As a result of this conflict nearly 20% of Azerbaijani territory has been occupied, every 8 person of the country’s population has become refugee and IDP…’ by Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO. The booklet presents the chronicle of incidents.
Booklet ‘The Khojaly genocide’ begins with views of Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO, about the tragedy: ‘The tragedy in Khojaly has deeply hurt the heart of every Azerbaijani living in different countries of the world and will never be forgotten. The genocide committed by Armenian nationalists against Azerbaijanis in Khojaly had resulted in death of hundreds of innocent people. Khojaly tragedy is one of the most horrible crimes committed against humanity in XX century. I wish no nation to undergo such a tragedy in its history’.
The booklet includes comprehensive information about Khojaly tragedy. According to the booklet, Armenia bears responsibility for this genocide and apart from the considerable facts in possession of the law-enforcement agencies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, this is documented also by numerous independent sources, as well as by eyewitnesses of this tragedy and evidences of Armenian military that took part in seizure of Khojaly.
In the end, extraction from Congressman Dan Barton’s speech in the US House of Representatives delivered on 17 February 2005 is presented. The Congressman says ‘This savage cruelty against innocent women, children and the elderly is unfathomable in and of itself but the senseless brutality did not stop with Khojaly. Khojaly was simply the first. In fact, the level of brutality and the unprecedented atrocities committed at Khojaly set a pattern of destruction and ethnic cleansing that Armenian troops would adhere to for the remainder of the war.’
The booklet comprises also photographs reflecting atrocities committed in Khojaly.
Booklet ‘Activity of Armenian terrorist organizations against Azerbaijan’ begins with words Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO, said about terror: ‘Nowadays, terrorism is the biggest danger of the mankind. No country in the world can insure itself against this disaster. Azerbaijan is one of the first countries having suffered from terrorism. That is why our country was among those having joined first the global fight against international terrorism. Apart from taking active part in antiterrorist coalition, we must use all the chances to completely deliver to the world community the truth about the bloody terrorist acts committed by Armenian nationalists against Azerbaijanis.’
The booklet talks of terrorist acts committed within territory of Azerbaijan by Armenian secret services and various Armenian terrorist organizations, also action of these organizations in different times.
Booklet ‘Consequences of Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan’ is opened with the following words by Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO: ‘The Armenia-Azerbaijan, Daghlig Garabagh conflict, having left more than a million of our compatriots homeless from their native lands, caused at the same time an enormous material and moral damage to our country. In our occupied lands up to 900 settlements have been destructed, schools, hospitals, libraries, museums looted, our ancient historical and cultural monuments destroyed, children of our fellow-countrymen, who have found refuge in the tent camps, have been deprived of receiving education under normal conditions. We must act consistently and purposefully in order to attract the attention of the international community to this issue and provide the truth to the world.’
The booklet includes information about damage caused by occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia.
This project performed by Heydar Aliyev Foundation will play a significant role in exposure of the occupant policy Armenia conducts against Azerbaijan.