Mr. Antonio Stango, President of the Italian Federation for Human Rights reads the statement of the Coalition for the media

Mr. Antonio Stango, President of the Italian Federation for Human Rights reads the statement of the Coalition for the media:

• The internationally acknowledged evidence for what occurred is stark, indisputable, and meticulously recorded at the time.

• Human Rights Watch and Memorial documented even more, including what HRW described as a clear violation of international humanitarian law: evidence that civilian victims were shot to death while fleeing through road which later, Armenian official sources claimed to be so called “Humanitarian corridor” for Khojaly residents.

• Today we are here as a sign of solidarity – to pay tribute and mourn innocent souls of victims to human hatred with their loved ones. Yet today we are also here to pave the way to reconciliation.

• As Justice and Peace go hand in hand, it is a momentum to address the conflict related traumas, effects of war crimes and mass violations of international law perpetrated in the past with the aim to lay a solid ground for peace to come.

• As leaders both in Armenia and Azerbaijan have announced in the aftermath of 2020 war their willingness “to turn the page” and start “era of peace in the region”, it is time for strong international mediation, first on civil society level, to end the impunity and silence, render justice for Khojaly but also to help communities in both countries to overcome the shadow of the tragedy through recognition, dialogue, and ultimate reconciliation.

• Now it is time for action. Therefore, tomorrow at our roundtable discussion on Peace and Transitional Justice we will announce practical programme and our call for both governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia but also for 2 countries civil societies to make moves out of box, to be courageous, to recognize wrong doings of the past and to step for reconciliation.

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