Lidice and Khojaly: Different places, same brutality.

26 February, 2010 Today over 60 nationals of the Czech Republic, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia and other countries gathered in a town of Lidice to commemorate the innocent victims of Khojaly genocide perpetrated by the Armenians.

The event started with laying a wreath at the eternal flame of Lidice memorial. The organizers of the event and guests of honor, including Tahir Taghizade, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the Czech Republic, Vaclav Koukal, Member of the Czech Senate, Vaclav Cervencl, Head of the Lidice Museum, Josef Klima, Mayor of Lidice, Gular Ahmadova, Member of Azerbaijani Parliament, Vahid Aliyev, Deputy Mayor of Khojaly town, Elshan Nazarov, Head of the Azer-Cech Society, Sulhaddin Humbatov of the Azerbaijan State Committee on Diaspora and other participants visited Khojaly massacre-related photo exhibition.

Director Cervencl welcomed the participants and underscored the importance of the event. Ambassador Taghizade acknowledged participating survivors of the Lidice massacre and defined the Lidice remembrance as a new stage in shedding light on Khojaly tragedy, as well as another manifestation of developing strategic partnership between the two countries. Senator Koukal stated that when one looked at the photos of the tragedy, the first urge was to close one's eyes. "But we can't do that. Because, if we do so, this terrible brutality might repeat". He also sent his condolences to the families of Khojaly victims.

Mayor Klima informed the attendees that in reciprocal manner one of the streets in the town Lidice will bear the name of Khojaly and vice-versa. At the same time he stated that heads of Lidice and Khojaly would sign a memorandum on cooperation between the two towns in near future.

Afterwards participants moved to Lidice Gallery where presentation on Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno Karabakh conflict was made. It was followed by demonstration of a clip "Justice for Khojaly" featuring Tony Blackman and Dayirman. The official ceremony ended by showing the 17-minute-long document about Khojaly genocide.

Two days ago city of Brno was a place where a commemoration of Khojaly tragedy was held. It was organized by International Center of Diaspora and attended by Members of Azerbaijani Parliament, and teaching staff of higher education institutions located in Brno, including leadership of the Technical and Masaryk Universities.