The Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba city, was opened on September 18,2013 with the support of the HeydarAliyev Foundation. The president of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva attended at the opening ceremony. President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady MehribanAliyeva got acquainted with the conditions created at the Complex Information Center. Mr. President and his wife reviewed the stands reflecting the scheme of the Complex. Director of the HeydarAliyev Center AnarAlakbarov informed the President about done works. President Ilham Aliyev honored the memory of victims and laid a wreath at the front of the complex. 
Then, the President and his wife got acquainted with exhibits inside of the Complex museum. The entrance part of the Complex contains expositions about various parts of Guba, construction works in this area and lifestyle of Guba population in early twentieth century. And there is a special section about the history of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) and interesting photos belong to it. A special map on the touch screen monitor installed in the complex reflects information in different languages about the genocide committed by Armenians against our people in various regions of the country in the last century. There is a corner of the works carried out by national leader HeydarAliyev to deliver world community the policy of genocide against Azerbaijanis and disposals signed for it. There is full information about atrocities committed by Armenians in Guba, Javad, Goychay, Shamakhy and Baku. The museum also contains information about population and protectors of the areas, documents and photos of the Extraordinary Investigation Commission belong to the Muslim massacres and documents of the Azerbaijani delegation at the Paris Peace Conference. There are photos of mass grave, cold weapons and other items which were found during excavation work, so the views of public, political, state and military figures from Azerbaijan, Iran, Great Britain and other countries on the genocide committed by Armenians against Azerbaijanis and photos of the Caucasian Islamic Army. The step, taken by the HeydarAliyev Foundation to perpetuate the memory of the victims, is historically significant. 
After familiarizing with the complex, the head of state made a speech for the representatives of the public of Guba region: -Today we have gathered at the opening of the Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba city. During March-July 1918, Armenian gangs committed genocide against civil population almost in all parts of Azerbaijan. Within five months, more than 50,000 of our compatriots had been victims of Armenian fascism. Genocide was committed against us in Baku, Guba, Shamakhy, Gusar, Yerevan, Nakhchivan, Zangazur, Karabakh, Lankaran and almost in all the Azerbaijani lands. I think, the creation of this Memorial Complex, is a historical event. As you know, in 2007, during excavation works here was discovered mass grave. After that, scientists, experts were sent here and great research was done. As a result of investigation, it became clear that thousands of our compatriots were brutally murdered by the Armenian gangs. At the end of 2009, I signed a disposal on the establishment of this Memorial Complex in Guba, and contraction works began in 2011. I can say that it is the first such Memorial Complex in Azerbaijan. The design of the Complex is very impressive, and architecture has a symbolic meaning. Briefly, the exhibits displaying here show our history. At the same time, the exposition created in the Memorial Complex has a great meaning. The entrance part of the museum reflects peaceful time of Guba area. Families, citizens had been living in peace. Then there was shown bloody days and atrocities against the civil population. At the end of the exposition, people leave here with optimistic mood. Because the end point of the exposition is the liberation of Baku from the Armenian gangs. The people killed here are representatives of different religions and nationalities. Their only sin was that they were not of the Armenian nation. In 1918 a special research commission was established by the ADR. The commission started it’s activity, but after the collapse of the ADR in 1920, the commission ceased to exist and it’s work was incomplete. At the same time, of course, we had very limited opportunities for that period to inform the world about this tragedy. The exposition of the Memorial Complex also reflects the Decree signed in 1998 by the great leader HeydarAliyev – To proclaim the 31st of March as a day of Azebaijanis massacre. It states that missions which couldn’t be finished by the EIC, was completed by the independent Azerbaijan state. In 1998 it was the first time, when the genocide was given legal and political point. These facts were hidden from us, as history had been distorted in the Soviet Union period. For many years, criminals, as Shaumyan and others who carried out bloodshed of the Azerbaijani people had been presented to us as heroes. It’s a terrible tragedy. Because the elements that committed atrocities against our people for many years were presented as heroes in Soviet Union history, and monuments were erected in their honor. Only during independence we could regain justice. We cleaned our beautiful city – Baku, from these monuments, and today there are beautiful parks, including the Coastal Park. And justice has triumphed. Today we are going back to our history. We know and we need to know all the details of our history. The younger generation should also know what disasters our nation has faced in the past. The Armenians could show their predatory faces in various parts of history, because Armenian fascism was not properly evaluated at that time. The Armenians, who were in Hitler’s care during World War II, were regarded as heroes in Armenia, and monuments were erected in their honor. It shows that the ideology of the modern Armenian state is also based on fascism. I think that Armenian fascism should be studied more widely by Azerbaijani scientists and great works must be created on the basis of historical parallels. I am glad that in recent years, including my own initiative, scholars have created enough meaningful works about the Iravan Khanate and our historical lands. We deliver this history to the younger generation as well. For example, many people didn’t know the history about declaration of Yerevan as the capital of Armenia. But when we raised this issue based on historical facts, both in Azerbaijan and around the world, everyone knew that the declaration of Yerevan as the capital of the Armenia was based on the decision of ADR. Therefore, great scientific works that reflect historical facts should be created. And some of them have already been created. But we must pay more attention to this issue. I think the issue of relocating of Armenians to our lands wasn’t properly highlighted. We all know that the Armenians were relocated from Eastern Anatolia and Iran to Nagorno-Karabakh in the first half of the 19th century. They have settled there and then began sabotages against the Azerbaijani population. And then, both Baku and Guba genocides, the crimes committed by Armenian fascism in World War II, and the manifestations of the Armenian fascism at the end of the last century should be widely investigated in Azerbaijani historical science.As I said, Armenian fascism once again showed itself in the late 1980s – early 1990s. We also remember that date. Because, two weeks after the removal of national leader HeydarAliyev from the Soviet leadership, the Armenian nationalists raised the issue of separating Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan and annexing it to Armenia. The Soviet leadership, leading by Gorbachev and the Armenian nationalists around him, committed serious crimes against the Azerbaijani people. The Bloody January events are directly Gorbachev’s actions. The crimes committed against our people before and after it have been well learnt in history. Until 1969, Armenians repeatedly appealed to the Soviet government regarding the annexation of Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. They have even made an official appeal. But HeydarAliyev’s decisive and serious protest did not allow this. After that, began the period of HeydarAliyev’sactivity in the Soviet power. At that time, of course, the Armenians had no opportunity to sabotage. In November 1987, two weeks after the resignation of national leader HeydarAliyev, the issue was raised and since that time genocide against Azerbaijanis began. The sabotage was made. Both Soviet and world press made a distorted opinion on this matter. As a result, the Khojaly genocide was committed in 1992. People who committed the Khojaly genocide are the representations of the Armenian leadership. The tragedy happened infront of the world. We see it on the basis of real facts, not like a mythology about “Armenian genocide”, which has no basis. Video materials, photos, testimonies of eyewitnesses – all of them are the evidences. But some do not want to see it, and still want to introduce the Armenians as victims. Of course, it has a reason. The Armenian lobby operating in the world and some hypocritical and bribe taking politicians under its control, distort the history and blame Azerbaijan. This injustice still continues. 613 innocent people were brutally murdered by Armenians during the Khojaly genocide. Here our compatriots were killed with blunt instruments and weapons, but in Khojaly with guns and grenades. Hundreds of people got lost, 63 children and 106 women were brutally killed .This is unprecedented atrocity. Today, the state of Azerbaijan and public organizations operating in Azerbaijan, primarily the HeydarAliyev Foundation, do a great job of introducing the Khojaly massacre as a genocide in the world. I would like to emphasize the activities of the HeydarAliyev Foundation in the establishment of the Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba city. The HeydarAliyev Foundation, our Diaspora organizations and, of course, the state of Azerbaijan are gradually achieving what we want in the launching and successful proceeding of the “Justice for Khojaly” campaign. Several countries have officially recognized the Khojaly massacre as genocide and the process is still ongoing. Armenian fascism must be properly assessed in the world in order to be protected from these tragedies in the future. But,unfortunately, injustice continues till the present days. I remember how unfounded accusations put forward many foreign hypocritical politicians against me for returning an Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan and releasing him. Even the European Parliament has adopted a resolution on this issue and has criticized my actions. Even today I can resolutly say that Azerbaijan has returned its officer, released him and restored justice. But look at how unfounded attacks on Azerbaijan have been in the world press and various international organizations. Of course, these attacks would have no effect. No power can influence the will and decisions of the Azerbaijani state.We have restored justice and will not abandon our policy. But why do not people who speak out on this issue see Nazi monuments in Armenia? Why are Armenian terrorists committing these acts in European countries freed and returned to Armenia, where they are treated as heroes? Why don’t they see it? How long will this injustice continue? How long will this occupation last? Our lands, recognized by the international community, is under occupation for 20 years. Nagorno-Karabakh is the ancient, historic land of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan became a member of the United Nations as a single state. No state calls into question our territorial integrity. Why four UN Security Council resolutions are not implemented? All these questions remain unanswered. We know the answers to these questions. We know the reasons why this issue is not resolved, and we make it clear. But this injustice must be stopped.Our lands are under occupation, our historical monuments and mosques have been demolished, museums have been plundered, and all cities have been destroyed. This museum contains photos of Shamakhy. Here are the photos of the Shamakhy Mosque in a half-destroyed state. This is one of the oldest mosques in the ancient Muslim history, which was constructed in 743 and we restored it in May of this year. This mosque was once again opened to believers. The genocide was committed, all historical monuments were destroyed. Look, the views of Shamakhy in this Memorial Complex in destroyed state are still being repeated today. Aghdam, Fuzuli and Shusha are in such a situation today and those who do ti are Armenians. And today, they want to present themselves as a cultural nation. But there’s only one name for them – predator! It is impossible to give another name to it Unfortunately, international legal norms do not work. The decisions of international organizations remain on paper, and injustice continues. In this case, of course, the strengthening Azerbaijani state should rely only on its own power. As reflected in the recent exposition of this memorial complex, 95 years ago, Baku was cleared of Armenians by the associated activities of local powers and Caucasus Islamic Army. If the international legal norms wouldn’t be restored and Armenia will continue its aggressive policy, our Army will make the final decision. We have the power to do this.Today, the Azerbaijani Army is the strongest army in the South Caucasus. Azerbaijan took full advantage of the opportunity created for us during the years of independence. If there was economic and military parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the years of independence, there is no longer any sign of this parity. Ten years ago, the state budgets of Azerbaijan and Armenia were almost the same. Today, our state budget is 10 times more than in Armenia. Only our military expenditures exceed Armenia’s state budget by 30-50%.We have a great advantage over all other parameters – in economic and political areas, and in terms of the role we play in the world community. Today Azerbaijan is a member of the UN Security Council and has great support from the world. Today we are able to get into the open space and we have a satellite. Our economic development in very fast and much work has been done as well as in the Guba-Gusar zone in recent years. Also other cities and villages are improving. Our demographic situation is very positive. We already have about 9 million. All these factors confirm our strength and it is the result of a well-thought-out policy. Armenia has already openly admitted in its actions and statements that it cannot provide its own security. We already know this. And I think that all parties involved in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh know this. But today, Armenia has to admit how helpless they are and in fear of us .I once said that the Armenian people should not be afraid of us, they should fear their leadership. They should be afraid of their bloodthirsty, predatory, bandit, and coward leadership that sacking and shooting their own people .The more the current Armenian leadership remains in power, the sooner Armenia will completely collapse and the historical justice will be restored. I am sure that Azerbaijan will restore its territorial integrity. All the factors – the ratio of forces, the international, economic and military factors – show this. It just takes time, and we want it to be comprehensive and complete. Azerbaijan territorial integrity must be fully restored, the state flag of Azerbaijan should be raised in Shusha and Khankendy and in future Azerbaijanis must live in their own lands. Irevan khanate, Goycha, Zangezur districts are our historical lands and I am sure that in the future we will live there. Each of us must put our efforts to achieve it.Today is a historic day. I want to say again that the establishment of the Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba city has a historical significance. It is the first such Memorial Complex in Azerbaijan and this memory will always live in our hearts. May Allah have mercy on all our martyrs!At the end, President Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva planted trees in memory of the victims.
