15 years after Shahumyan events

15 YEARS AFTER SHAHUMYAN EVENTS Alisa Gevorgyan

Radiolur 13.06.2007 16:31

Today is a tragic day for the whole population of Getashen. Fifteen years ago 21 thousand people were forcefully displaced from their historic lands.

The refugees from Shahumyan region and Getashen have a number of unsolved problems in their current places of residence: many have no homes or live in poor social conditions, education is a problem for the youth, not even speaking about the war captives and missing persons. Presenting all these problems, President of the Shahumyan-Getashen Patriotic Union Edik Balasanyan, however, laid the emphasis on other issues.

"Azerbaijan must understand that resolution of the Karabakh issue through mutual concessions means that it must return the occupied NKR territories to Armenia. The solution of this problem will make easier for part of Armenian refugees to return to their native lands," said the President of the Union, adding: "Lands should be allocated in the liberated territories for repatriation of our forcefully displaced compatriots and provide them the opportunity to return for permanent residence. It must certainly be included in the NKR, thus ensuring the return of refugees to their motherland and safe residence"

"For 15 years June 13 I have been opening the newspapers, trying to find a small message, saying that this is a tragic day equivalent to April 24, but my attempts are vain. There has never been any mention of it," Vahagn Martirosyan said.