“The Khojaly massacre carried out by the Armenian Armed Forces two decades ago is a human tragedy full of barbarity and shame, which occurred right in front of the international community,” Şahin said on Thursday in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, while talking to Azerbaijani journalists. He said Turkey is against any genocidal crimes, no matter where in the world they are being committed. He noted that Turkey is not ashamed of any event in its history, adding: “Turks have never raised a hand against a quiet and aggrieved people in any part of the world. However, if our people were attacked, the Turkish nation defended and will defend itself with all of its power.”
Şahin also said the 20th anniversary of the Khojaly massacre committed in 1992 will be commemorated in Turkey, as in Azerbaijan. The minister mentioned that commemoration activities were held in Ankara, İstanbul and other big cities. Şahin also offered his condolences to the Azerbaijani people.
Şahin arrived in Baku on Wednesday as a formal guest of Azerbaijani Interior Minister Ramil Usubov. Şahin was received by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and will also have meetings with Usubov, Azerbaijani Justice Minister Fikret Mammadov and Azerbaijani Emergency Situations Minister Kemaladdin Heydarov on Thursday. He will return to Turkey on Thursday evening.
Before Azerbaijan, Şahin paid a visit to Georgia where he had meetings with the Georgian prime minister, interior minister, justice minister and the chairperson of the national security council and visited the police academy, as well as signed a memorandum of cooperation against crime between Turkey and Georgia
