INDEX Announces 2015 Empathy Program To Commemorate Khojaly Massacre

NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Turkey and Azerbaijan are collaborating to present on February 21^st, a program commemorating the 23^rd anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre, in which hundreds of ethnic Azerbaijani civilians were slain by opposing Armenian armed forces.

About 3,000 guests, including ministers, academics, high-level executives and other dignitaries from both countries are expected to attend the event, to be held at the Congresium Center in Ankara, the capital of Turkey.

The "Empathy Program" will include 3D shows and music representing the genocide of Turkish and Azerbaijani people by Armenians, said Rashad Abdullayev, the chairman of INDEX - Center for Human Capital Development of Azerbaijan. Musician Nigar Jamal, who won the Eurovision song contest in 2011, will perform a song, and a video of the production will be broadcast via YouTube.

"We expect the leaders from both countries to join us in observing the anniversary of these tragic days," Abdullayev said.

"A large column of residents, accompanied by a few dozen retreating fighters, fled the city as it fell to Armenian forces," according to international advocacy group Human Rights Watch. "As they approached the border with Azerbaijan, they came across an Armenian military post and were cruelly fired upon."

Human Rights Watch, the Memorial Human Rights Center and other international observers said the killings were committed by the ethnic Armenian forces.

ABOUT INDEX:
For more information please visit http://www.indexaz.org/en or http://empathy2015.org/#

CONTACT: For more information, contact Mel Ayan at (212) 980-8090 or via e-mail at [email protected].

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http://www.indexaz.org/en