From the book "Refugees. Azerbaijan." Baku, 1997

This is a book about Azerbaijani refugces, about the greatest national tragedy of Azerbaijan, expressed in photos. Everyone who will take hold of this book will need fortitude to read it through. Maybe only turning the last page you will try to forget about
'the oppressive feeling that is caused by terrorism, separatism and aggressive nationalism - the most disgraceful phenomena of our reality.

The book contains a number of photos. But there could have been a lot more. Each of the 1.200.000 Azerbaijani refugees and IDP's could have been photographed at the place where he or she is destined to live today -a tent camp, an unfinished house, a forest or an empty field. These faces call for mercy and compassion. But they also say "Watch out!" to each of you and warn the mankind against undisguised nationalism and terrifying results of the desire to build Great Armenia between two seas in the territory that belongs and always belonged to Azerbaijan.

The image of an enemy has never been inherent in the great humanistic culture of Azerbaijan that has given the world great philosophers, poets, artists and musicians. Azerbaijanis have always tried to be an open society. The position of Azerbaijan which is situated at the junction of East and West has contributed to the development of this tradition. This position allows us not only to build caraven roads but also to welcome all religions and cultures and to give a shelter to all who need passion, mercy and sympathy.

Today 20% of Azerbaijan's territory is under the occupation of Armenian military forces. However, our intention is not to try to explain why it happened and why it still continues, though the act of occupation contradicts all international laws and standards. We want to leave it to historians and politicians. Let them find an explanation to the fact of inhuman cruelty which brought to a root-and-branch destruction of an entire town - Khojali - by Armenian troops during one night. Let them try to reason out for what so many innocent people have to sacrifice everything they possessed, including their health, and for the sake of which values they have to live through traumatic shocks of a refugee or a hostage life. The terror that Azerbaijanis experience being kept as hostages in
Armenia is impossible to describe. A separate book should be written about it. Today Armenian ideologists say that the occupation of Azerbaijan's territory is kind of compensation for the lost territory of Armenia which is now in Turkey... No commentary is needed.