ANC OF NEVADA URGES GOVERNOR TO RETRACT PROCLAMATION OF AZERBAIJANI REMEMBRANCE DAY
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
21.05.2009 20:12 GMT+04:00
The ANC of Nevada has responded to a proclamation issued by Nevada
Governor Jim Gibbons which proclaimed March 31 as Azerbaijani
Remembrance Day. The proclamation commemorates "the deaths of tens
of thousands of Azerbaijani civilians due to the Nagorno- Karabakh
conflict" and the so called "March Massacres" of 1918 in Baku,
Azerbaijan.
The proclamation, the timing of which is highly questionable, has
caused great consternation and substantial outrage in the Armenian
American community in Nevada and throughout the country. Based on
manipulative news coverage in the Azerbaijani and international press,
it appears this proclamation has been promoted by interests wishing
to oppose the self-determination of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
(NKR) and further to distract attention from efforts to recognize
the Armenian Genocide.
"The Armenian-American community throughout the state of Nevada is
shocked that Governor Gibbons was so easily misled and manipulated
by foreign interest groups representing the governments of Azerbaijan
and Turkey and their high priced lobbyists. We expect our Silver State
public officials to do their homework and represent the interests of
their constituents here in Nevada," stated ANC Nevada spokesperson
Razmik Ablo.
In a letter to the Governor, the ANC of Nevada expressed the
community’s outrage and disappointment over the proclamation’s wording
which refers to NKR as a part of Azerbaijan’s "territorial integrity"
when the US State Department and OSCE Minsk Group have made clear
that the right of self-determination for the people of NKR is an equal
priority. The letter also states that "this proclamation is currently
being offered as human rights activists around the world prepare for
the observation of the international day of commemoration of the
Armenian Genocide on April 24. As you are also aware, the Turkish
government and its foreign agents deny the historical reality of
this crime. Unfortunately, scores of news stories emanating from the
Azerbaijani press are utilizing your proclamation as a subterfuge for
genocide denial by stating that this proclamation supports the idea
that Armenians committed genocide against Azerbaijanis at the time."
The historical record regarding the period in question makes it clear
that civil war raged in the area. According to documents in the United
States Library of Congress and publications of that era such as the
New York Times, pro-Russian communist forces engaged in isolated acts
of violence. These acts were not systematic and widespread, such as
tactics implemented in the Armenian Genocide, Holocaust and Darfur.
"As committed human rights advocates, we do not minimize the suffering
of any people at any time – but instead call attention to the
politically motivated nature of the proclamation… …we feel it is
necessary to raise awareness of the true intentions of those interested
in securing such proclamations from the governor of our state."
ANC of Nevada advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and
political rights of the area’s Armenian American community and promotes
increased Armenian American civic participation at the grassroots
and public policy levels.