The merit of Heydar Aliyev is great in the recognition of Khojali genocide in the world.

The meeting dedicated to the 28th anniversary of Khojali genocide was held at Gabala Medical and Diagnostic Center. At the memorial ceremony, the memory of martyrs who fell on the path of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was honored with moment of silence. The head physician of the center, Jeyhun Ahmadov, speaking at the event, reported that on the night of February 25 to 26, 1992, Armenian armed groups with the help of the military of 336th motorized rifle regiment of former USSR located in Khankandi city attacked Khojali city. Khojali, surrounded on four sides by Armenian troops, began to be fired heavily and mercilessly with artillery and heavy military equipment. 613 residents of the city, surrounded by the Armenian armed forces, including 106 women, 63 children and 70 elderly people, were killed, 487 civilians were seriously injured, 1275 people were taken prisoner. The deputy director, a resident of Khojali, Kamal Mammadov, noted in his speech that national leader Heydar Aliyev, who again returned at the insistence of the people to power in Azerbaijan, began work in the direction of ensuring internal stability and preventing political and economic decline in 1993. He achieved a ceasefire in 1994. Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict began to be viewed from absolutely different perspective. National leader Heydar Aliyev is the main instigator, initiator of the recognition of Khojali genocide. While fulfilling the powers of the President, great leader, who worked as the chairman of Supreme Council, wrote in writing to the chairman of the Security Council on July 26, 1993 with request to immediately convene the UN Security Council in order to take urgent measures to prevent Armenian violence. By a decision of February 24, 1994 of Milli Majlis, annual commemoration of February 26 as the “Day of Khojali Genocide” and awareness of international organizations about this, was first legal assessment given to Khojali genocide. It was reported that due to the attempts of President Ilham Aliyev, growing authority, successful diplomacy of Azerbaijan, the world community understands that terrorism and policy of occupation are the base of Armenia’s managed policy. In the end, the speakers expressed that one of holy goals is to draw a lesson from such incidents and protect our independence.