Azerbaijan’s Consul General in Los Angeles appeals regarding Armenian-planned "Artsakh 20th Anniversary Commemoration"

Today.Az, Azerbaijan
April 19 2008

19 April 2008 [12:13] – Today.Az

The Armenian Cultural Foundation plans to hold an event "The Artsakh
20th Anniversary Commemoration" at the Wilshire Ebell Theater on May
2 of 2008.

In this connection, Azerbaijan’s Consul General Elin Suleymanov
has appealed to the general manager of the Wilshire Ebell Theater
Philip Miller.

The letters states deep concern regarding the event.

According to it, "the "Artsakh 20th Anniversary Commemoration" is a
reference to the beginning of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict in 1988,
the most violent confrontation in the former Soviet Union to date. The
reality is that, on May 2, the Wilshire Ebell Theatre will be hosting
the celebration of a conflict, which cost tens of thousands of lives
in both Armenia and Azerbaijan and led to displacement of over one
million civilians".

The letter says that numerous governments, international governmental
agencies, as well as U.S. government policy officially recognize the
illegal occupation of this Azerbaijani territory; acknowledge the
ethnic cleansing conducted by Armenia and the presence of hundreds
of thousands of refugees".

"As I sit to write this letter, the U.S. government is working
vigorously toward resolving the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. Please
understand that, not a single nation, including the United States
and, in fact, Armenia, recognize the separatist regime of so-called
"Artsakh."

I understand that Wilshire Ebell Theatre is a private institution
and that the Armenian Cultural Foundation is entitled to have
private events. However, as the subject involves Azerbaijan’s
internationally-recognized territory, as well as the ongoing suffering
of people and wounds yet to be healed on both sides, I urge you to
consider the ethical and moral ramifications and affects of this event.

I cannot imagine Azerbaijan ever welcoming a celebration of an event
as painful to Americans as the beginning of this unresolved conflict
is for the Azerbaijanis. Moreover, celebrating ethnic cleansing and
violence against civilians is hardly compatible with the Wilshire
Ebell’s history and reputation", the appeal reads.

/Today.Az/

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