KHOJALY GENOCIDE VICTIMS COMMEMORATED AT THE GROTE KERK IN THE HAGUE
A memorial event titled “Elegy of Eternal Echoes” was held at the Grote Kerk, the main church and principal religious-cultural center of The Hague, on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide.
The event was attended by representatives of Dutch state institutions, the diplomatic corps accredited in the country, as well as figures from political, public, cultural, and academic circles.
In his speech, Ambassador Mammad Ahmadzada, recalled the horrific consequences of the Khojaly genocide and provided information about events held in various cities across the Netherlands to mark the 34th anniversary. The diplomat noted that the erection of the first monument in Europe dedicated to the Khojaly genocide in The Hague demonstrates the Netherlands’ respect for historical memory, its solidarity with the people of Azerbaijan, and the humanitarian and cultural ties between the two countries. He emphasized that the Khojaly genocide remains an unhealed wound in Azerbaijan’s history and that the sacred memory of the martyrs will forever live in hearts. The ambassador also stated that under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, thanks to national unity and the bravery of the national army, Azerbaijan has restored its sovereignty and territorial integrity and is taking determined steps toward ensuring lasting peace in the region.
M. Ahmadzada added that through the concert program “Elegy of Eternal Echoes,” presented by the Chamber Ensemble “I Briconcello” composed of Italian and Dutch musicians, Azerbaijan symbolically conveys a message of peace and justice to the international community in the universal language of music, together with its friends, from The Hague - globally recognized as a city of peace and justice.
Maestro Pierluigi Ruccero, director of the Chamber Ensemble “I Briconcello” stated that for 15 years the ensemble has served as a cultural bridge between Azerbaijan and Europe, working to communicate the truths about Azerbaijan to European audiences through music. In this regard, he spoke about various projects carried out by the ensemble, particularly the literary-musical performance staged in Italy on the 25th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, based on stories from the book “Khojaly: 20 Years, 10 Stories. This Could Have Been True…” authored by Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and initiator of the international “Justice for Khojaly!” campaign. He also mentioned the literary-musical performance based on the novel “Pain” co-authored by Arye and Amir Gut, staged on the 30th anniversary of the genocide.
The maestro noted that the concert program “Elegy of Eternal Echoes” was performed in various cities in 2021, during the Patriotic War period, in solidarity with Azerbaijan, and was dedicated to the memory of martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country’s territorial integrity. He added that the repertoire symbolically reflects Azerbaijan’s centuries-old traditions of multiculturalism and religious tolerance, promoting respect, dialogue, and mutual understanding through music that transcends borders and unites people.
The musical program featured lyrical works by world-renowned composers, as well as “Shusha” by Farhad Badalbeyli, the Azerbaijani national song “Sari Gelin” by Kamala Alizade, excerpts from Gara Garayev’s ballet “The Seven Beauties”, and selected works by Sevinj Ibrahimova.
