Support Self-Defense of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic
WASHINGTON—A broad array of Armenian-American advocacy, civic, religious, charitable, academic, youth, human rights, and cultural 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 to forcefully condemn Azerbaijan’s aggression and support the self-defense of the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic (NKR/Artsakh), 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 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, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
Armenian Americans from across our nation ask you, in light of the worst Azerbaijani attacks since the 1994 Nagorno-Karabagh ceasefire, to forcefully condemn Azerbaijan’s aggression and—in light of Baku’s reckless initiation of hostilities only hours after meeting in Washington, D.C. 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
Children of Armenia Fund (COAF)
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
I don’t mean to be a Naysayer but I refuse to kiss the ass of the donkey that gave permission to Azerbaijan to retain territorial integrity. All of a sudden 12 hours later we get attacked and in supposed to ask the same people who allowed this action for help ?????
Very good letter to prisident Obama, why not mentioned that Isreal helping azerbaijan. Very importandt that all kown this .
Good choice of picture, Barack Hussein Obama figuratively giving the middle finger to Armenians. Denying genocide, allowing Turkey to flow in terrorists in Armenian towns in Syria, green lighting Azeri aggression towards Armenia, not to mention numerous other wrongdoings that hurt America. January 1, 2017 can’t come sooner.
Long live USA,
Long live Armenia,
Long live Nagorno-Karabagh.
do you really think obama has any guts or cares about the Armenians? this chap has no idea and the funny thing is that the american people chose this chap to run the country. incredible?
Doesn’t really matters who runs. They are all puppets to a higher power. Turkey is our ally , embarrassingly , so we will always bow down to their demands. Quite sickening.
Good Luck
The American big shots only care about getting elected and their pensions.
Mr. Obama is just the enforcer of the US establishment policies. The oil lobby
and their cronies in congress and related committees are all bought out. They are friend of Azerbaijan because of their oil and pipelines. They changed policy and became close friend of Erdogan with his criminal policies. We have a long history of befriending the despot leaders. Shah of Iran, Idi Amin, Marcos of Philippines, privately with Gaddafi, Manuel Noriega. Supporting the strong man in Philippines caused the Aquino government to kick us and our military bases from their country. All due to half-arse uninformed policy enforcement. What can one expect from Obama when he denied the genocide.
It’s not Obama’s decision. It’s Turkey’s decision to our Republican Pentagon who decides what should or shouldn’t be done! Do not criticize Obama only go through the backbone of US and then decide who is responsible for anything that’s being done.
Yes, a-ha, nothing doing… Omaba will condemn Azerbaijani aggression just like he recognized the Armenian genocide. Waste of time and resources…
Don’t forget that Israel is a major partner with Azerbaijan oil company, and does have influence on mini-Hitler-want-to-be Aliev..
Waste of time: Better to gather all these organizations and create ONE unity ARMENIAN ORGANIZATION with ONE GOAL and raise funds for WEAPONS..Might is right.
Karabaugh belongs historically to the Massacred heroes of 1915. It needs to be supported as such
for the first time by Americans, who did nothing in 1914-15, to support the helpless Armenian heroes
Who were slaughtered outright by the Muslim Turks. To not support these heroic Armenians is
tantamount to not supporting the freeing of the slaves in the Civil War.. America must stop the politics of
the oil masters and support this humanitarian cause. These are our historic roots.
Please stop the figthing, stop the savage Azerbaijan killing the Armenians and please ask Israel to stop selling arms to Azeris.
Christians never bleu a bomb in Israel killing them. Whey they are killing Armenians with the Dron and the guns Israel is selling. From now on I will not feel bad for any one that gets killed in Israel.
We should not criticise the President. All the US.President no one before him and after him will ok the genocide. This is American policy as long as they are in good terms with Turkey and keep their bases.Even Israel whose people also were persecuted like the Armenians never accepted on the top of it they sell the most modern arms to Azerbaijan . Ironically Russia also sells arms to Azerbaijan Russia has a defense pact with Armenia. No wonder the Armenian Genocide occurred in 1915 If we can not defend ourselves nobody will. In 1915 Turkish Govt.commited the crime against its own citizens. Now our friends Russia and Israel (who has same history like arminians) are arming the Azeris for blood money.