Washington, D.C. – One year ago today, Azerbaijan, with the full and open support of Turkey, and Turkish-recruited jihadist mercenaries, launched an unprecedented war on the Armenian people of Artsakh. Over the course of 44 days, the citizens of Artsakh were subject to brutal incendiary weapons, such as internationally banned cluster and white phosphorus munitions, which were aimed at civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and schools.
On this solemn day, the Assembly remembers the thousands of Armenian soldiers and volunteers who fulfilled their call of duty and sacrificed their lives for their homeland, leaving behind families and unrealized potential. The loss of that generation – who sought to transform Armenia into a beacon of progress and prosperity – is tremendous. The Assembly honors the memory of every single fallen soldier and volunteer and vows to continue its advocacy work in their name.
The November 9 trilateral ceasefire statement put an end to the daily savagery of the war, however, Azerbaijan's violent aggression continues, particularly in Armenia’s Syunik Province, as well as the ongoing destruction of religious, archeological, and other cultural heritage sites. Torture and inhuman abuses against Armenian POWs and civilians still illegally held in captivity remains unchecked – in stark violation of the terms of the statement.
The Assembly is encouraged by recent congressional actions in response to the behavior of the Aliyev and Erdogan regimes. Again the Assembly thanks President Biden for explicitly reaffirming US recognition of the Armenian Genocide and expects full enforcement of Section 907 and sanctions to ensure US tax dollars do not support its continued aggression and ongoing human rights abuses.
The Assembly also thanks the US, France, and Russia for their renewed commitment to use the OSCE Minsk Group, which the UN Security Council endorses, toward that end. The corrupt, authoritarian regime in Azerbaijan, led by Aliyev, continues to violate its commitments in a thinly veiled continuing effort to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh issue by eliminating the Christian Armenians. His speech at the UN last week only confirmed that design with Erdogan, as the Armenian people pursue peace, democracy, and human rights.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
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NR# 2021-82