A commemorative event called “Remembrance of Khojaly: A Tribute through Music and Art” dedicated to the victims of the Khojaly genocide was held at the Turkish House operating in New York City.

The National Anthems of Azerbaijan and the United States were played at the event, which was organized with the support of the State Committee on Diaspora Affairs, the Alliance of American Azerbaijani Organizations and the “My Way” (My Way) Children and Youth Development Center, and the memory of the martyrs of the Khojaly genocide was commemorated with a minute of silence.

Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the UN Yashar Aliyev, Consul General of Turkey in New York Reyhan Özgür, representatives of the diplomatic corps, members of Jewish and other friendly communities, our compatriots living in New York and surrounding areas took part in the event.

The host of the event, Azerbaijani student Leyla Aslanova, gave extensive information about the Khojaly genocide committed by Armenian terrorists against the Azerbaijani people with special cruelty. 

Yashar Aliyev, Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the UN, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, noted that February 26 is one of the saddest days in the history of our nation.

Department head of the Diaspora Affairs Committee, Selhat Abbasova, said that after the liberation of Khojaly from occupation, the confidence that the criminals who caused the tragedy will be punished has increased, and she hopes that the city will revive with the warm breath of Azerbaijanis after the restoration.

Jamila Mammadova, press secretary of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in the United States, emphasized that the Khojaly genocide is one of the most heinous crimes and genocides of the modern era, and the establishment of justice is very important for our people.

Minavvar Vahabova, the head of the Alliance of American Azerbaijani Organizations, said that our compatriots are constantly informing about the tragedy, and that the victims of the tragedy, especially the atrocities against children, are inhumane.

At the event, the short film “History of Azerbaijan” dedicated to the Khojaly genocide, made by ELTV media group in cooperation with “Vatan” Azerbaijan Art and Culture Center, was shown.

In the artistic part of the event, our compatriot living in the USA, soloist of the Dresden Symphony Orchestra and member of the Norwegian Union of Musicians, kamancha player Shabnam Huseyn performed a concert program called “Dedication to the memory of Khojaly Genocide martyrs”. Artist Azerbaijan and classical composers (Albinoni’s “Adagio”, Eric Satin’s “Ginossienne”, Fikrat Amirov’s “I’m looking for you”, Tofig Guliyev’s “Sad song”, Asaf Zeynalli’s novel “Olkam”, folk song “Ay Lachin”, Farhad Badalbeyli’s “Ave Maria”) performed his works.

Within the framework of the event, four works of Azerbaijani artists living in the United States – painter Chingiz Mahir Musayev called Khojaly composition, and sculptor-artist Emin Guliyev’s statue dedicated to the victims of Khojaly, teacher of the “My way” Children and Youth Development Center, were exhibited.