Remembarance Day ceremony of 20 January Martyrs was held in Pakistan

In connection with the 30th anniversary of “20 January – Nationwide Day of Mourning”, the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Pakistan and Preston University of Pakistan jointly organized a Remembrance day ceremony of 20 January Martyrs.

After the announcement of the opening of the ceremony with the national anthems of Azerbaijan and Pakistan, the memory of the Martyrs was commemorated with a minute's silence and verses from the Quran.

The event was attended by diplomats, media representatives, academic circles, art and public figures, as well as by different university students. Speaking at the ceremony, Sajid Munir, Director of Lok Virsa – Heritage Museum of Pakistan, said that 20 January events were particularly engraved in the memory of the fraternal Azerbaijani people and stimulated the restoration of Azerbaijan's independence. As the head of the commission of the competition-exhibition named as "20 January - Bloody and Glorious Page of the History of Azerbaijan", organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Pakistan jointly with the Preston University of Pakistan, S.Munir noted that he had received extensive information throughout the exhibition as well, gave information on the results and winners of the competition and conveyed his gratitude for organizing the art competition and exhibition.

Speaking at the Remembrance day ceremony, Dr. Abdul Basit, Chancellor of Preston University said that the 20 January events have a special importance in the history of Azerbaijan, and that this bloody history, characterized by the unlawful decision of the Soviet authorities to kill innocent people, women and children, had led to the restoration of the glorious state of Azerbaijan. Dr. Abdul Basit, describing the severity of the 20 January  tragedy said that while many socialist countries did not dare to demand independence from the USSR, Azerbaijan was able to take this step. He stressed that it was heartwarming to commemorate the anniversary of this historic event, as well as the commemoration of the martyrs of Azerbaijan, in various formats with the Embassy of Azerbaijan to Pakistan.

Ali Alizada, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Pakistan said that 20 January events were an important milestone in the struggle for independence of our people, and that the Armenianized Soviet army could not break the ideas of freedom of the nation. “Indeed, the day of January 20 remains a bloody but also a glorious day in the history of Azerbaijan.” Ali Alizada underscored the role of leaders in gaining independence and mentioned that the people of Azerbaijan felt that they were not alone after the statement by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev with regard to 20 January events. “The independence movement had gained new momentum and expanded.. The movement eventually resulted in the restoration of Azerbaijan's independence”, Ambassador said.

The Ambassador stressed that Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan soon after regaining its independence and thanked the state and people of Pakistan for not recognizing aggressive Armenia as a state till date. He noted that the peoples of Azerbaijan and Pakistan have always cherished the memory of their martyrs, remembered them with gratitude and solidarity, and the present commemoration ceremony is a clear example of this. While conveying his best wishes to the winners of the competition, Ali Alizada noted that an art competition and exhibition was organized at Preston University, with the participation of amateur artists and students from different universities on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of 20 January events. He also expressed his gratitude for cooperation in organizing the exhibition.

At the end, winners and participants of the art competition, dedicated to the the 30th anniversary of 20 January tragedy, were presented with cash prizes, certificates and different gifts. Moreover, the students of Preston University showed various performances.

Different books, magazines and other visual material about the realities of Azerbaijan were distributed and video clip on the historical and political significance of  20 January  events and on the memory of the martyrs was also displayed during the event. Footages from the event, as well as the interviews of Ambassador Ali Alizada were widely highlighted by Pakistani TV channels and other mass media outlets.