WASHINGTON–Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) executive director Aram Hamparian, in the wake of President Obama’s speech this evening championing the right of the citizens of Afghanistan and all peoples to live in freedom, issued a statement citing the Administration’s failure to apply the democratic principle of self-determination in its Nagorno Karabagh diplomacy.
In his speech, President Obama asserted that: “In all that we do, we must remember that what sets America apart is not solely our power—it is the principles upon which our union was founded. We are a nation that brings our enemies to justice while adhering to
the rule of law, and respecting the rights of all our citizens. We protect our own freedom and prosperity by extending it to others. We stand not for empire, but for self-determination. That is why we have a stake in the democratic aspirations that are now washing across the Arab World. We will support those revolutions with fidelity to our ideals, with the power of our example, and with an unwavering belief that all human beings deserve to live with freedom and dignity.”
The full text of Hamparian’s statement is provided below:
The direction of U.S. diplomacy on Nagorno Karabagh, including the OSCE Minsk Group proposal which will be discussed at the upcoming Kazan summit, runs contrary to the very principles—self-determination, freedom, and democracy—that President Obama so ardently advocated this evening.
While we certainly welcome the ongoing efforts of the OSCE to bring about a fair and lasting peace, we remain troubled that the deal presently under consideration would force the citizens of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic—who are barred from acting as a party
to the ongoing negotiations that will determine their fate—to trade their hard fought security and well-deserved independence for an undefined “interim status” that will increase, not diminish, the risks of renewed Azerbaijani aggression.
It is reckless and irresponsible to ask Armenians to make upfront, concrete, and effectively irrevocable land, status, and security concessions in exchange for deferred and easily reversible Azerbaijani promises of a vaguely defined “expression of will” regarding Artsakh’s status that may or may not—depending on Baku’s willingness—take place at some point in the future.
The Obama Administration should, first and foremost, require that the official representatives of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic be fully and immediately reinstated in the peace process, and then move forward, not by pressuring the Armenian side into reckless concessions, but rather by acting in the spirit of the President’s powerful words this evening, and in accord with his campaign commitments to seek a lasting settlement for Nagorno Karabagh based upon America’s founding commitment to the principles of democracy and self determination.
Aram Hamparian
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This is excellent turn around time Mr. Hamparian! I watched obama’s speech and the first thing that came to mind when I heard him say the following “We stand not for empire, but for self-determination”, was – what about about Artsakh you hypocrite?
Thank you Mr Hamparian and well done ANCA.
Kudos to Hapmarian and ANCA for such a well-timed statement. Unfortunately, I don’t think it will have any real effect on Obama and his policies. That does not devalue the statement, however.
Well deserved speech Mr. Hamparian. In four years of Obama’s reign to presidency I have encountered from him lies, deceit and hyppocrite behaviors towards Armenians. Thank you Harout Hamparian for speaking up and for the truth.
In my view the ANCA is doing an excellent job in keeping timely visibility on critical issues in our geo-political environment. I just returned from a visit to Karabagh with my family and I feel inspired by the motivation, will and energy of our brethren there. The concept of territorial integrity is usually a convenient vehicle for maintaining the status quo…. as it is being applied here. it ignores the recent historical injustices that created that current status. Looking at he fact and not political expedience, it is clear that self-determination is the dominant issue in the Karabagh liberation. While the Azeria make threats and act irresponsibly, the people of Artsakh are building a functioning society with infrastructure and hope forthe future. Every building that goes up and every child that is educated in their independent homeland increase their will even further. We must support the continued development of Artsakh and pray for these brave people. There is no greater evidence of the industrious of our people.
Self-determination? Come on guys, do you really think the world buys your bullshit? karabak conflict is not about self-determination right, which applies to nations. Karabak is not a nation. Armenian is the nation, and there is already a state called Armenia. You know very well that without resorting to the self-determinaton ruse, your game is wide in the open: a territorial claim against a UN member state. So to make matters look more legitimate, the fiction of the self-determination fight for Karabakis was invented. With similar logic, the southern US cities with majority Mexican populations have the right to make their US cities become part of Mexico? How laughable! Beside, look at the Karabak “flag”. Even the picture itself, with a triangle partioning Karabak from Armenia, with an arrow pointing westwards gives it away (unification with Armenia). So all you are doing is fooling yourself. Your ruse is visible to everyone (again, if your flag so unsubtly gives it away). But here is a fact. Never ever, Azerbaijan and Turkey will give Karabak to Armenia. We lost a battle, during a time of turmoil (Azerbaijan had no government in the post-USSR space). Dont confuse a battle with a war. War is not over, as you will soon find out. And no matter how much Mr. Hamparian and other noxious (Washingon Post appelation for ANCA, by the way) lobbyists try to intervene, we will not be stopped. US needs our oil and will not bother to go against its own interests for the sake of Armenia, the same Armenia which has sold weapons to Iran directly linked to named American casualties in Iraq, the same Armenia which is a close ally of Russia, the US arc-rival. So keep on dreaming.
why did armenia attack her neighbour in the first place? the anwer is it was our land and we wanted to make it our land. Why do not you attack turkey as you claim your land was stolen by turks. If yiur answer is we are waiting the right time as most armenians think. Why turkey should tolerate and have a good relationship with a country that doesn,t respect her territory and her neighbours? I really want you to think about it
To Pahsha,
I am amazed with your audacity, ignorance, or maybe both. You have the courage to bring up the issue of “the same Armenia which has sold weapons to Iran directly linked to named American casualties in Iraq “.
Apparently you are unaware or you choose to ignore the heroic activities of your brothers and cousins in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’m sure, once I remind you of their adventures against the Coalition Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan you will be proud of them and maybe join them too.
Let me give you a brief background of Turkey in the game of combating/sabotaging the efforts of the US forces in Iraq.
According to Wikileaks, Turkey has been busy in smuggling weapons to Al Qaeda forces in Iraq. The classified official documents prove that the Turkish authorities have allowed money and weapons to pass across the Turkey’s border to Iraq en route to Al Qaeda terrorists in Iraq.
The documents also show Turkey’s involvement both directly and indirectly in carrying out terror attacks like blowing up of a bridge in Baghdad.
In one of the reports, an American intelligence agency appears to have sent a cable that says, “Large amounts of water have arrived from Turkey, large waves will hit Baghdad in a few hours. Some people are widening the irrigation canals”.
This coded message is believed to refer to the delivery of weapons from Turkey for the purpose of terrorist activities/warfare in Baghdad.
Now, to you the above information may seem to be vague or like any other story without a face. The next paragraph will help you to resolve any suspicion that you might have about the leaked intelligence from Wikileaks.
Publication: Terrorism Focus Volume: 4 Issue: 26, August 10, 2007 .
According to Frank Hyland,
“A firefight with U.S. military forces on June 23 near the town of Hawija in northern Iraq exposed the presence of Turkish al-Qaeda operatives. It also revealed their probable role in facilitating a flow of jihadis to Al-Qaeda in Iraq on behalf of al-Qaeda, as well as the identities of two of the operatives and their backgrounds and roles (Terrorism Focus, July 10; MNF-I Statement, June 28). Additional details provided since that time as a result of the continuing investigation by U.S. military authorities serve to reinforce the validity of the implications reported in Terrorism Focus on July 10. The identity of a third individual, Ahmed Sancar (also known as Khattab al-Turki), killed in the June 23 firefight south of Kirkuk, has been announced by U.S. military officials (TurkishPress.com, July 20). Sancar, also Turkish, was characterized by the U.S. military as a “senior” leader in al-Qaeda, and as a “key” financier and facilitator for the group. In a significant finding, the cell’s leader, Mehmet Yilmaz (also known as Khalid al-Turki), was said to be a “close” associate of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Muhammad. These conclusions continue to reinforce the magnitude of the loss suffered by al-Qaeda, Al-Qaeda in Iraq and the Turkish al-Qaeda organization in the June 23 firefight. These revelations also highlight the difficulty that al-Qaeda will have in replacing the Yilmaz cell in order to restore the flow of jihadis into Iraq from the north to its previous rate.”
Publication: Terrorism Focus Volume: 4 Issue: 22
“There are a number of implications for Turkey and others, including the United States, regarding the involvement in Turkish al-Qaeda of an individual with the depth and breadth of experience of Yilmaz. First and foremost, it reinforces the existing evidence seen in numerous instances across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East that returning jihadis do, in fact, remain involved in the jihad and assume roles of increasing responsibility within al-Qaeda and its affiliated groups. Yilmaz’s combat experiences, including that of being wounded, formed the foundation of and were the preparation for his latest role in Iraq. Those experiences parallel that of any number of other senior al-Qaeda operatives, including Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Mohammed Atef and Abu Zubaydah”.
Brother Pahsa, I hope the information that I have provided above makes clear in regards to the people/govrenment that are involved in killing and blowing up US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, Turkey, a supposedly ‘staunch’ ally of the US refused to allow US to mount an invasion of Iraq from the North of Iraq.
A combined North-South assault would have pinched Iraqi forces with no chance of escape.
At the time, American generals unequivocally stated that Turkey’s refusal to assist their ally allowed large numbers of trained Iraqi fighters to escape, prolong their resistance, and cost hundreds of additional American casualties
This is a supposed NATO ‘ally’ whose military is almost entirely supplied at the expense of US Taxpayers.
Armenia’s alleged transfer of some light weapons to Iran, without the knowledge that they would end up in Iraq, was tied to the death of 1 US soldier – that’s right: one confirmed tie-in.
Turkey’s matter-of-record refusal to allow US forces to transit its territory has been estimated by US to have cost several hundred additional American deaths.
Pasha’s disinformation about Artsakh was answered in the other thread: no need to repeat here.
Monstras was also answered in the other thread: no need to repeat here.
Pasha,
re. With similar logic, the southern US cities with majority Mexican populations have the right to make their US cities become part of Mexico?
Right yes. Willingness absolutely not!!!
re. We lost a battle, during a time of turmoil. Dont confuse a battle with a war. War is not over, as you will soon find out.
The only reason war is not over is because we have not liberated all of our historic lands. Slowly but surely we will. When we are ready for another battle, we will make you attack us. Soon you will find out again!
One thing I must admit is that you guys have strong weapons. The strongest of all are the suicide bombers. So because they will have a hard time climbing the hills to get to us, what are you going to do?? Drop the siucide bombers from the planes??
Obama is too spineless to defend anything. Armenian-Americans were among the first to discover this. He’s a sock puppet for whoever has the most money or the most effective blackmail.