During the meeting, Khaloyan and ICC representatives discussed the importance of therapy for those who are trying to adjust after the brutal war that claimed the lives of soldiers and civilians, destroyed infrastructure, and displaced thousands of residents.
The Assembly had also connected with ICC in person in December 2020, when Khaloyan traveled to Artsakh during her fact-finding trip following the signing of the November 9, 2020 trilateral ceasefire statement. Since then, ICC has conducted extensive research, participated in the Assembly's online Advocacy Panels, and published several articles raising awareness and expressing concerns regarding Azerbaijan's continued existential threats and violence against the Armenian people in Artsakh.
The HALO Trust is focused on clearing cluster munitions and other unexploded ordnance from densely populated areas such as Stepanakert, Martakert and Martuni, which will ensure the safety of the remaining population and returning displaced families in the coming weeks and months.
"As one can imagine, the work is very dangerous. These teams put themselves in harm's way everyday to ensure the safety and well-being of civilian lives," said Khaloyan. "This critically important work saves lives and we very much appreciate continued U.S. assistance in this regard," Khaloyan added.
"There is not enough space for students or educators, as students are crammed in one classroom," said Khaloyan. "There is also a concern of language preservation as there are many dialects throughout Artsakh. To ensure the preservation of these dialects, children are taking second shifts in school. To help solve this issue, additional schools are needed to protect the language and help preserve the culture of the different areas of Artsakh now under occupation," added Khaloyan.
The Assembly remains deeply troubled by Azerbaijan's ongoing ceasefire violations, including last week's unprovoked attack against the Armenian people in Yeghtsahogh – a region along the Lachin/Berdzor Corridor monitored by Russian peacekeepers – with the use of mortars, launching grenades, and strike drones aimed at defense posts, resulting in 2 killed, 19 wounded, and 4 seriously wounded.
The Assembly urges Congress to hold the Aliyev regime accountable for its ongoing ceasefire violations and renewed hostilities against the Armenian people. The importance of enforcing Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act is clear. "It is imperative for Armenian Americans to make their voices heard and press Congress to stop Turkey and Azerbaijan from succeeding in their plans to remove the surviving Armenians from Artsakh and infringe further on Armenia's border," stated Khaloyan. "Armenia and Artsakh stand as leading democracies in the region and efforts to maintain its security are tantamount," added Khaloyan.
