Armenian American Organizations Call on Obama to Condemn Azerbaijani Aggression

Support Self-Defense of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic

WASHINGTON—A broad array of Armenian American advocacy, civic, religious, charitable, academic, youth, human rights, cultural, and other organizations have joined together—in a strong show of diaspora-homeland solidarity—to call upon President Barack Obama to stand up to Azerbaijan’s aggression as part of a renewed American diplomatic effort to promote peace and foster long-term regional stability.

The community-wide letter specifically asks the U.S. President, in addition to forcefully condemning Azerbaijan’s aggression, to support the self-defense of Nagorno-Karabagh, the suspension of U.S. military aid to Baku, the deployment of gunfire locator systems, the provision of emergency relief aid to Artsakh, and the organization of a multi-agency U.S. fact-finding mission to investigate reports of Azerbaijani war crimes, look into allegations of Azerbaijan-ISIS cooperation, evaluate the destruction caused by Azerbaijan’s aggression, and assess Nagorno-Karabagh’s humanitarian relief and reconstruction needs.

“We welcome this renewed opportunity to underscore the Armenian American community’s enduring solidarity with the Armenian homeland, and—amid this latest escalation of Azerbaijani aggression—to highlight our diaspora’s rock-solid commitment to the security, the strength, and independent status of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabagh,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.  “We look forward to engaging with the Administration in support of each of the policy priorities set forth in this appeal, and to bringing renewed energy and focus to our leadership in support of full and formal American recognition of Artsakh’s independence.”

The letter, which was brought together on a short schedule, includes a broad and representative cross-section of groups but does not, due to time limitations, represent the full array of Armenian American organizations supporting Artsakh.

The full text of the letter is provided below.

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Text of Armenian American Community Letter to President Obama

April 8, 2016

The Honorable Barack Obama
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Armenian Americans from across our nation ask you, in light of the worst Azerbaijani attacks since the 1994 Nagorno-Karabagh cease-fire, to forcefully condemn Azerbaijan’s aggression and—in light of Baku’s reckless initiation of hostilities only hours after meeting in Washington, DC with senior members of your Administration—call for principled American leadership for peace and long-term regional stability.

In view of the renewed hostilities by Azerbaijan, which undermine our nation’s regional interests, and taking into consideration President Aliyev’s open threats to continue and further expand aggression against Nagorno-Karabagh, we express our full support for the courageous efforts of the people and governments of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh to protect their citizens and encourage the U.S. government to support the self-defense of the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic. We commend, as well, the formal recognition of the independence of the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic by the U.S. states of California, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. President Aliyev’s actions, which represent a direct challenge to U.S. leadership for a negotiated resolution and grave threat to the peace of the entire region, require a strong American response.

In the interest of peace, we call upon you to immediately stop all military aid to Azerbaijan, and enforce Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act. We also encourage you to work with Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic on the deployment of gunfire locator and other monitoring systems on the Nagorno-Karabagh side of the line-of-contact and the Armenian side of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

Mr. President, in keeping with the humanitarian spirit of the American people, we urge you to immediately send emergency relief aid to Nagorno-Karabagh, including medical equipment and other urgently-needed relief supplies. We are reminded, during this dark time, that it was the generosity of the American people, through the noble work of USAID, that helped rebuild Martakert and Martuni following Baku’s 1991-94 aggression, two of the same communities that have come under heavy Azerbaijani fire.

In closing, we encourage you to send a multi-agency fact-finding mission—led by our Department of State—to thoroughly investigate serious reports of Azerbaijani war crimes and other violations of the Hague Convention, to look into allegations that Azerbaijan has engaged ISIS fighters, to evaluate the destruction inflicted by Azerbaijan’s aggression, and to assess the humanitarian relief and reconstruction needs of Nagorno-Karabagh’s civilian population.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

 

All-Armenian Student Association

American-Armenian Legion

Americans for Artsakh

Apostolic Exarchate for Armenian Catholics

Armenia Artsakh Fund

Armenia Fund

Armenia Tree Project

Armenian Aintabtzy Cultural Association

Armenian American Democratic Leadership Council

Armenian American Veterans

Armenian Assembly of America

Armenian Bar Association

Armenian Compatriotic Union of Ourfa

Armenian Council of America

Armenian Democratic Liberal Party

Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America

Armenian Evangelical Union of North America

Armenian General Athletic Union (HMEM) – Eastern Region

Armenian General Athletic Union (HMEM) – Western Region

Armenian General Benevolent Union

Armenian General Benevolent Union – Western District

Armenian International Women’s Association

Armenian Missionary Association of America

Armenian National Committee of America

Armenian National Committee of America – Eastern Region

Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region

Armenian Relief Society – Eastern Region

Armenian Relief Society – Western Region

Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Eastern Region

Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Western Region

Armenian Rights Council of America

Armenian Society of Los Angeles

Armenian Youth Federation – Eastern Region

Armenian Youth Federation – Western Region

Artsakh Development Group

Baku Armenians

Birthright Armenia

Daughters of Vartan

Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America – Eastern Region

Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America – Western Region

Friends of New Julfa

Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society – Eastern Region

Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society – Western Region

Iraqi Armenian Family Association

Kharpert Cultural Association

Knights of Vartan

Memory, Dignity, Justice Association of Armenian Refugees from Azerbaijan

Mousa Ler Association of California – Los Angeles

National Association for Armenian Studies and Research

National Organization of Republican Armenians

Organization of Istanbul Armenians

Paros Foundation (Berkeley, California)

Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America – Eastern Region

Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America – Western Region

Shant Student Association

Social Democrat Hunchagian Party

Tekeyan Cultural Association, Inc.

United Armenian Council of Los Angeles

United Human Rights Council
Source: Armenian Weekly Mid-West