News

On March 29 Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU) held a memorial event dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the 1918 Genocide of Azerbaijanis. ASOIU Rector, Professor Mustafa Babanli, historian, Professor Anar Isgandarov, as well as academic staff members and students took part in the event.

The national anthem was played in the beginning. Then ASOIU Rector, Professor Mustafa Babanli made a speech saying that each citizen ought to know his historical background. Speaking about the invasion policy of Armenians against Azerbaijan for many years, Rector Babanli talked about the tragedies that our people was made to go through from time to time. The Rector noted that March 31, 1918 was the most terrible and bloody page of the Azerbaijani history of the 20th century. He stressed the importance of correctly informing the world community about what our people went through.

Professor Anar Isgandarov said the March 31 genocide was neither the first nor the last tragedy that has happened to Azerbaijanis. He talked about Armenian-Turkic conflicts lasting for many years, as well as the insidious policy of Armenians and their defenders against the Azerbaijani people. Professor Isgandarov noted that as a result of the cruel massacre by Baku Soviet and Dashnak Armenian armed forces against Azerbaijanis in Baku and different regions of Baku province, as well as in Shamakha, Guba, Khachmaz, Lenkaran, Hajigabul, Salyan, Zangazur, Karabakh, Nakhchivan and other territories between March 30 and April 3, 1918, thousands of Azerbaijanis were killed, tens of thousands of people went missing.

At the end of the event, it was stressed that the independent Republic of Azerbaijan is the most precious treasure for each citizen and it was underlined that the young generation - the future of our country - should learn well the history of the country.