ANCA Rallies Grassroots Protest of Azerbaijani Military Escalation
AYF Leads #ArtsakhStrong Social Media Campaign in Support of Karabagh Freedom
WASHINGTON—Members of Congress continue condemning Azerbaijan’s latest escalation of anti-Armenian aggression, in the form of its introduction of surface-to-air missiles in a fatal attack this week on an unarmed helicopter flying over Nagorno-Karabagh, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
“The downing of an Armenian helicopter today is an indefensible aggressive action that threatens to undermine the fragile ceasefire and plunge the region back into violence,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.) announced, just hours after the Nov. 12 Azerbaijani attack. “Azerbaijan must immediately cease all such attacks and provocations and commit to concrete progress in the Minsk Group talks.”
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) noted that he was “outraged and saddened” and called for immediate U.S. action to hold Azerbaijan accountable for their action. “I encourage President Obama to formally condemn this deadly attack,” said Rep. Pallone. “I am also calling for the cessation of any military assistance to Azerbaijan and the strengthening of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, which restricts aid to Azerbaijan based on its aggression toward Nagorno-Karabagh and Armenia.”
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) noted that “The apparent shoot down of an unarmed helicopter over the territory of the NKR, demonstrates Azerbaijan’s callous disregard for human life and its willingness to engage in provocative acts of violence to distract from its domestic problems. This horrendous conduct threatens to destabilize the entire region.”
In a statement issued earlier today, Rep, Judy Chu explained “I am deeply troubled by the latest evidence of Azerbaijan’s continued aggression with their attack on an apparently unarmed helicopter. The people in Nagorno-Karabagh deserve and desire peace, but Azerbaijan’s disregard for the 1994 cease fire threatens both sides with conflict.”
“Azerbaijan should be held accountable for engaging in violence and not in peaceful negotiations,” commented San Fernando Valley (Calif.) Congressman Brad Sherman, tweeting in solidarity with the Armenian Youth Federation #ArtsakhStrong social media campaign raising awareness about Karabagh freedom and opposing Azerbaijan’s increasing aggression.
In less than two hours, the AYF Western U.S., Eastern U.S. and Canada-led effort generated over 2,500 unique tweets viewed over 500,000 times on Twitter. Facebook and Instagram participation was robust as well. Participants were creative with their messaging, focusing on Artsakh history and the escalating campaign of Azerbaijani aggression. An AYF infographic on the helicopter attack called on the “international community to pursue sanctions on Azerbaijan.”
Support for the targeted online awareness campaign continues with a growing number of activists contacting their Members of Congress to condemn the attack by visiting the ANCA’s action center – www.anca.org/stopaliyev
California State Legislators Speak out Against the Attack
Just months after the California legislature adopted legislation in support of Karabagh self-determination, state-level elected officials issued strong statements against Azerbaijan’s most recent attacks.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of Major Sergey Sahakyan, and the two members of the Artsakh Air Force who perished today,” said Assemblyperson Adrin Nazarian. “It is unconscionable that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces would shoot down an unarmed helicopter, during a routine exercise, in an unprovoked attack against Artsakh. In order to regain peace in the region, Azerbaijan needs to prove themselves as an equal partner of peace and immediately cease all aggregation against the people of Nagorno-Karabagh.”
California Board of Equalization Member and Controller Elect Betty Yee shared her concerns regarding the most recent attack. “When life is threatened anywhere and citizens are left in fear, the possibility of peace becomes less hopeful. I join my elected colleagues around the world in denouncing this act of violence against Armenia. May peace reign within the borders, and may violence against any people and nation be condemned.”
Assemblymember Marc Levine tweeted, “If shown to be true, this unprovoked attack has the potential to destabilize an already unstable situation.”
ANCA Video Call to Action:
Immediately after news of the Azerbaijani helicopter attack, ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian issued a video call to action to secure strong, bi-partisan Congressional condemnation of Azerbaijan’s escalation in violence.
The video can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/user/ANCAgrassroots
Hamparian was forceful in his responses to weak Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and State Department responses to the helicopter shooting:
“The OSCE’s public response once again falls back into the deeply flawed pattern of placing equal blame on both sides for hostility that all the world knows is being directed by one man—Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan.”
Guest Contributor
Latest posts by Guest Contributor (see all)
- Kariné Poghosyan’s Vienna series to conclude with “Beethoven” - April 26, 2024
- Ruben Vardanyan granted permission to speak with family who plea for end to his hunger strike - April 26, 2024
- Nora Armani to perform Mercedes and Zaruhi in Boston - April 24, 2024
It’s certainly good that many members of the U.S. Congress are condemning Azerbaijan for its latest escalation of anti-Armenian aggression. However, exactly how will all of this deter the Azerbaijani terrorist leader (Aliyev) from continuing his campaign of terrorism against the republics of Armenia and Artsakh? The answer is that he is in no way deterred by anyone’s condemnation. The terrorist state of Azerbaijan has been condemned for numerous things up to now; but yet, these numerous condemnations have had absolutely no effect on President Aliyev. The truth of the matter is that he’s laughing at everyone. You know why? He never gets punished for his acts of terror against the Armenian people. Due to his current large oil supply, he has the United States in the palm of his hand who allow him to go unpunished for his campaign of terrorism against the republics of Artsakh and Armenia. And the way things look at the current moment, it appears this will all continue for another ten to fifteen years until the time that Azerbaijan’s oil supply gets entirely used up. So, in the meantime, the United States will continue to use Azerbaijan in satisfying its greedy oil appetite; and as a result, the U.S. leadership will continue to overlook President Aliyev’s anti-Armenian aggression which will encourage him to commit further acts of terror against Artsakh and Armenia. What about Russia and Europe? Both of them, just like the United States, will also continue to overlook all of this. Therefore, what other remaining option is there for the republics of Armenia and Artsakh in dealing with this campaign of terrorism being directed at them by Azerbaijan? The only remaining option is to fire back. This has nothing to do with starting a war; this has to do with retaliation. Once again, if the terrorist state of Azerbaijan is permitted to commit terrorism against the republics of Artsakh and Armenia, then they have every right to retaliate back.
I’m going to guess that Armenia responding in kind to Azerbaijan will generate more harsh words from world leaders given their petrol connections with Azerbaijan.
This is just a guess on my part.
Your also missing the Israeli Jewish connection of selling the Azeri’s weapons. And of course the need for a despot corrupt “king” to allow Israeli and the west to use Azerbaijan as a launching, listening, watching pad for any possible attack against Iran.
While these “condemnations” are warranted and nice and should be taken advantage of, these politicians will equal to nothing and be completely silent as Israeli interest become #1 priority for all foreign policy. As sad as that is.. Especially the Jewish members of congress. Sorry, I trust non of them. TRUST THE ARMENIAN MILITARY ALONE! That is the lesson of the Armenian genocide. TRUST OURSELVES ALONE.
Not enough