In the day of the memorial of "Black January" international experts expressed their feeling about the tragedy. Eurasia Diary presents you the opinions.
An American political analyst Peter Tase feels sorrow about the tragedy. He condemns the happenings in the terrible night.
"Black January Massacre of January 20th, 1990, in the Republic of Azerbaijan, will be remembered in world history as an atrocity committed by Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev against the innocent and freedom loving people of Azerbaijan. Almost thirty years ago, the People of Azerbaijan have advocated peace, democratic institutions and raised their voices for the defense of International Law and Order; the Government of National Leader Heydar Aliyev bolstered national institutions and made Azerbaijan - the Land of Fire - a shinning crown jewel above the hill, Baku earned a prestigious reputation among the world's largest capital cities.
Furthermore, the killing of almost 150 Azerbaijani citizens on January 20th, 1990, is a strong commitment of Azerbaijani People for the defense of their national sovereignty, territorial integrity and economic progress; all of these national strategic pillars and priorities are currently embodied fervently in the incumbent administration of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, a visionary leader that has defended western style statecraft in a vulnerable region, where over twenty percent of Azerbaijani sovereign territory continues to be occupied for over thirty years (since 1988)" - P. Tase told.
A Turkish political analyst Prof. Dr. Selin Senocak urges world to the peace and remembers the tragedy.
"The tragedy of "Black January" was the heroic struggle for independence of Azerbaijan The bloody tragedy perpetrated against the people of Azerbaijan on January 20, 1990 is a human tragedy, forever etched in the black pages of World History. The Soviet troops invaded into the city of Baku and some regions of Azerbaijan. The invasion of Baku by a large contingent of units of the Soviet army, internal troops and special Forces was accompanied by cruelty. Black January turned out to be the beginning of the end of Soviet rule in Azerbaijan and disintegration of the Soviet Union. Azerbaijani people made history with this heroic struggle. The brutal massacre was committed over the peaceful Azerbaijani population, hundreds of people were killed, wounded, missing.
Azerbaijani people were deprived of all defense mechanisms. They were martyred by sacrificing themselves for the freedom, indepence and honor of their country. The roots of the January tragedy were in the continuing aggression of Armenia. Against Azerbaijan for over two years, an analysis of the events of 1988-1990 clearly shows that Armenia, with the full support of the central Soviet government, intended to annex part of the territory of the neighboring republic. Currently, It has been internationally recognized that Azerbaijani territories are under occupation and that Armenia has been actively involved in the creation and maintenance of that situation. The existence of and exclusive Armenian presence in the occupied territories is expressly recognized by the political organs of the United Nations, by the EU, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, together with recognition by individual states.
The armed conflict in and around the Nagorny Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan continue to endanger international peace and security, the UN General Assembly reaffirmed its continued strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders, demanding the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of all Armenian forces from all occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan. International community must do more in pressing for peace in Nagarno-Karabakh. It is a necessity of providing normal, secure, and equal conditions of life for Azerbaijani and Armenian communities in the Nagorno Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which would allow to build up an effective democratic system of self-governance in this region within the Republic of Azerbaijan."
Eurasia Diary is greateful to the experts for sharing their view and condemns brutality and death of innocent people.