No national or religious discrimination in Azerbaijan, Baku saysOctober 3, 2007 - 17:22 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - "The Nagorno Karabakh problem is not connected with national and religious discrimination," Azeri Milli Mejlis deputy chairman Valeh Aleskerov said in his address to the BSEC committee of culture, education and science.There was never national, religious or ethnic discrimination in Azerbaijan, he said. "Azerbaijan was always tolerant toward other nations and religions. It is obvious," he stated. According to him, the "Nagorno Karabakh conflict was provoked by some political groups wishing to come to power." "Presently, these forces hamper the conflict resolution in order to maintain power," he said, Trend news agency reports. However, it worth reminding of the pogroms of Armenians in 1988. Dozens of Armenians were slaughtered in Sumgait during three February days. Official sources reported 52 victims. Some 14 thousand Armenians had to flee Sumgait after the massacre, which came up as a brutal response to the decision of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast to secede from the Azerbaijani SSR and join the Armenian SSR. The Sumgait massacres were followed by pogroms in Kirovobad, Baku and Armenian-inhabited villages. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenia Security Council chief traveling to Qatar Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan will travel on a working visit to Qatar. Armenian Foreign Minister regrets “tragic loss” of Iranian counterpart The Armenian Foreign Ministry has expressed shock over the death of the Iranian President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Armenian PM sends condolences to Iran Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a message of condolence to the Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Armenia, Turkey discuss restoration of historic bridge The meeting took place on May 17 in Ashgabat on the sidelines of an international conference of ministers of culture. |