Azerbaijani anti-Armenian provocation prevented in Cairo
On 26 February the Azerbaijani embassy in Egypt organized a seminar on “Legal Status of Minorities in international conflicts: analysis of the Nagorno-Karabakh status." The seminar aimed at spreading disinformation on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Aghdam events taken place in 1992.
However, according to the Armenian community in Egypt, the presence of the chairman of the Armenian General Benevolent Union's Cairo branch Perch Terzian, attaché of Armenian embassy Vardges Hovsepyan and Egyptian expert of Genocide studies Muhammad Rifat al-Imam ruined the plans of the Azerbaijanis. At the request of the chief editor of "Al-democracy" Bashir Abdel Fattah the Armenian side was allowed to participate in the discussion.
Perch Terzian, Vardges Hovsepyan, Muhammad Rifat al-Imam took the floor, in response to the speeches of the speakers, Director of the Center of Political Science "Al-Hiwar" Imad al-Mahdi and the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Egypt Shahin Abdullayev, whose performances were full of anti-Armenian falsifications. The Armenian side criticized the falsified information presented by the speakers, proving their words by historical, legal facts.
The true causes of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were presented to the attendees in details, as well as the constructive disposition of Armenia in the settlement process of the conflict, and the provocative policy carried out by Azerbaijan. They also presented the real events that took place in Sumgait and Aghdam, touched upon the official policy of Azerbaijan of disseminating hatred towards the Armenians. As an example they brought the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan and the glorification of his murderer, Ramil Safarov, in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani ambassador was accused of misleading the audience.
The atmosphere in the room changed after the speeches made by the Armenian party. Participants in the debate began to raise balanced and unbiased questions.
The community also reports that at the end of the event that was organized by the Azerbaijanis, the Armenian side, in response to a question from the audience whether there is information source opposing the Azerbaijani version, gave books with illustrations to everyone present, with photos depicting the events in Sumgait and Aghdam.