Karabakh conflict is ‘all about physical survival’, says Italian parliamentarian

The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) is beyond any territorial dispute; it’s all about the physical survival of the people living on that territory, a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies said in a recent address commemorating the 31st anniversary of the Sumgait pogroms.

In his speech at the Italian Parliament, Giulio Centemero of the ruling Lega party described the mass killings in the Azerbaijani towns as "one of the most tragic yet least recognized chapters" of modern history.

''I would like to deliver speech in this hall to remember perhaps one of the most tragic, but less known chapters of the modern history – the Armenian massacres in the Azerbaijani town of Sumgait which took place 31 years ago. In February 1988, in response to the peaceful demonstrations of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh aimed at exercising their right to self-determination, the Azerbaijani authorities organized violent pressures against the Armenian population of the Azerbaijani cities of Baku, Sumgait and Kirovabad. Everything began from Sumgait where as a result of the obvious support and permission of the Azerbaijani authorities, numerous Armenians have been killed for one reason – their ethnic affiliation. Hundreds of thousands of Armenians were forced to leave their homes and towns. During those days, one of the fundamental human rights – the right to life, has been violated,” ARMENPRESS quotes him as saying.

The Italian legislation also cited the European Parliament’s resolution, adopted shortly after the tragic events, noting that it gave a proper wording to the killing of people.

“Unfortunately, even 31 years later, we are still witnessing a real propaganda of a continuous anti-Armenian rhetoric and hatred. This was also demonstrated during the April 2016 four-day war by the use of artillery against the innocent people and brutal killings of elderly people in Nagorno Karabakh. Therefore, it is necessary to end the hatred rhetoric and educate the peoples to peace, respect to the person and freedom of religion. And therefore, it’s very important for our country, which chaired the OSCE in 2018, and also as an OSCE Minsk Group member state, to continue supporting the works of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs, as the only format having a full international mandate to deal with the settlement of the NK conflict,” Centemero added.