Diana Altman, the principal of Cultural Diplomacy L.L.C (USA ), gave an exclusive interview to “Eurasia Diary” on Khojaly genocide committed by Armenian armed forces  on 25–26 February, 1992.

Eurasia Diary: From point of your view, is the Khojaly genocide one of the most tremendous tragedies against humanity in the world history?

Diana Cohen Altman: Of course, a massacre of human beings is a tragedy against humanity, but what do we want the world to know about and learn from Khojaly? If we focus on the word genocide, we become trapped in an intellectual and political argument about what the enemy intended to do. If we compare the pain of Khojaly among Azerbaijanis with the pain of others who have undergone national tragedies, we deny Khojaly the individual attention it deserves and if we focus on the universal significance of the event, we lose sight of the meaning and impact of the event to the Azerbaijani people.

Those of us who care about bringing Khojaly to the world’s attention need to focus on issues such as who the people were, on what happened there, on what motivations were behind the attacks, on what the loss has meant to the Azerbaijani world, and naturally on the pursuit of the justice. We need to make every effort to preserve the material evidence of Khojaly and to ensure that people always remember. Adding to the pain and tragedy of Khojaly is the fact that many of the perpetrators were not brought to justice. We must keep the light burning for justice to be done. 

Eurasia Diary: Thousands of cultural and religious monuments had been destroyed in occupied territories of Azerbaijan? What can you say about it?

Diana Cohen Altman: Azerbaijani authorities have gathered invaluable and heartbreaking statistics about monuments, artifacts, institutions damaged and destroyed. Harder to measures are the effects of tremendous cultural traditions, such as music, dance, rug making, that have been ripped from their roots. I am very happy to see efforts such as those by rug expert Vugar Dadashov and music historians Sanubar Baghirova and Aida Huseynova—just to give a few examples of cultural pioneers—who are researching, preserving, and sharing the glories of Azerbaijani culture.

One of the most important things Azerbaijanis can do to react to Khojaly, in my opinion as a cultural expert, is to embrace their own culture and ensure its future. Other groups who have suffered terrible losses have found ways to always remember the past while moving forward and thriving.

Interview by Yunis Abdullayev