Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: info@aaainc.org
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
October 7, 2004
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: ckojoian@aaainc.org
ARMENIAN CAUCUS CO-CHAIRS, MEMBERS CALL ON BUSH TO DENOUNCE AZERI WAR
RHETORIC AGAINST ARMENIA, NKR
Washington, DC – A congressional letter calling on President Bush to end
Azerbaijan’s ongoing war-mongering towards Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh has
the backing of more than 70 Members of the House of Representatives. The
letter, issued today by Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs
Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), is part of a
continuing effort by the Caucus to end Baku’s threats against Armenia and
NKR.
“We thank Congressmen Knollenberg and Pallone for this principled response
and obtaining the support of lawmakers from both sides of the political
aisle,” said Assembly Executive Director Ross Vartian. “We also commend the
Armenian-American community for backing the letter-writing campaign by
encouraging their representatives to sign on.”
The Assembly, for its part, has followed Baku’s actions and words closely,
starting with the brutal murder of an Armenian army lieutenant by an
Azerbaijani officer last winter at a NATO training facility in Hungary.
Since then, Azerbaijan, rather than condemn the killing, has hailed the
perpetrator as a hero and increased its anti-Armenian rhetoric.
In fact, an Azeri Defense Ministry spokesman has said, “As an Azeri, I would
have understood and supported [Lt. Ramil] Safarov’s actions.” Also,
Azerbaijan’s ambassador to the Council of Europe said he would not advise
Armenians, “to sleep easy in their beds.”
The killing came a month after Azerbaijan refused to allow three Armenian
officers to attend a conference held in Baku under the auspices of the
NATO/PfP program. Last month, NATO officials canceled military exercises
scheduled to take place in Azerbaijan after Baku’s repeated attempts to bar
Armenia’s participation and refusal to allow Armenians on their territory.
Prior to the cancelled NATO exercises, an Azeri government spokesman called
for the takeover of Armenia and removal of the entire Armenian population
from the Caucasus. “In the next 25 to 30 years there will be no Armenian
state in the South Caucasus,” Ramiz Melikov said. “This nation has been a
nuisance for its neighbors and has no right to live in the region. Present
day Armenia was built on historical Azerbaijani lands. I believe that in 25
to 30 years these territories will once again come under Azerbaijan’s
jurisdiction.”
On September 28, Pallone denounced these and other remarks made by Baku on
the floor of the House of Representatives. Earlier, he and Knollenberg sent
a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell, urging the government from
favoring the country with increased military funding over Armenia which
could undermine their fragile cease-fire.
Last month the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to reinstate military
parity, allocating $8.75 million in military aid to both countries. The
Senate mirrored the House on parity, but added $3 million in security
assistance funding.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
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NR#2004-091
Editor’s Note: The Armenian Assembly will issue the complete list of
cosigners to the Bush letter on Friday, October 8.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress