WASHINGTON (A.W.)—U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry issued on April 2 a statement condemning “in the strongest terms” the ceasefire violations along the Nagorno-Karabagh Repubilc (NKR/Artsakh) Line of Contact (LoC). Kerry’s statement avoided assigning blame, and instead appealed to “the sides” to “show restraint” and enter into “an immediate negotiation under the auspices of the OSCE [Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe] Minsk Group co-chairs on a comprehensive settlement of the conflict.”
“The ANCA is sharply disappointed in Secretary Kerry’s false parity in the face of open Azerbaijani aggression,” said Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “The Obama Administration recklessly set the stage for this escalation by so warmly welcoming [Azerbaijani] President Ilham Aliyev to Washington. By failing to confront either his growing regional aggression or, for that matter, his worsening domestic repression, President [Barack] Obama effectively gave Aliyev the green light to continue his march toward war. Aliyev got the message and—at the cost of dozens of lives—acted on it within hours of leaving Washington.”
Hamparian urged the Obama Administration to condemn Baku’s recent act of aggression against Artsakh. “President Obama must clearly and unequivocally condemn Azerbaijan’s aggression, immediately secure the implementation of the Royce-Engel peace proposals, and support the inalienable right to self-determination of the independent Republic of Nagorno Karabagh,” said Hamparian.
Azerbaijan launched a full-blown attack on multiple positions of the Nagorno-Karabagh contact line overnight on April 1-2. The Azerbaijani Army employed tanks, military helicopters, drones, and various caliber weapons in an assault that targeted the LoC on the southern, southeastern, and northeastern fronts. The NKR Defense Army retaliated, and, according to the NKR Defense Ministry Twitter page, brought down two helicopters and two drones, and destroyed three tanks. There were multiple casualties on both sides. Civilians were also targeted. According to reports, 12-year-old Vaghinag Grigoryan was killed in the Marduni region, and two other children were wounded, from a Grad BM-21 multiple rocket launcher attack.
During an emergency meeting of Armenia’s National Security Council held on the evening of April 2, Armenia’s President Serge Sarkisian announced that as a result of the attacks, the Armenian side had suffered 18 casualties, while 35 people were injured. Azerbaijan’s losses—including to its air force, personnel, and armored vehicles—were “significant,” he added, according to PanArmenian.net.
The ANCA has urged the public to take action by sending a webmail to President Obama, Congress, and the OSCE Karabagh negotiators urging them to take immediate action to stop Baku’s latest attacks. To take action, click here.
Below is Secretary Kerry’s statement in full.
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United States Condemns Ceasefire Violations Along Nagorno-Karabagh Line of Contact
The United States condemns in the strongest terms the large-scale ceasefire violations along the Nagorno-Karabagh Line of Contact, which have resulted in a number of reported casualties, including civilians. We extend our condolences to all affected families. We urge the sides to show restraint, avoid further escalation, and strictly adhere to the ceasefire. The unstable situation on the ground demonstrates why the sides must enter into an immediate negotiation under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs on a comprehensive settlement of the conflict.
We reiterate that there is no military solution to the conflict. As a co-chair country, the United States is firmly committed to working with the sides to reach a lasting and negotiated peace.
The cold blooded murderers Azerbaijan and arnenian blood thirsty cold blooded murderer stupid Aleyev has to stop. None of this is happening because of Armenians, for all of this Aleyev and the other cold blooded murderer Erdogan are to be blamed.
Kerry is a Turk loving loser like Obama, his hands are deep in innocent Armenian blood. He and president Obama, plus the loser Bush administration, are the main cause of all the violence and the bloodshed in that region. Failed strategy for the past 15 years, us should be ashamed of it!
Worthless sissified and pansified statement.
president obama and secretary kerry…. the bobsy twins.
Obama & Kerry could care less about Armenians. They prefer thatNGC go back to Azari, then they can kill all of Armenians
Isn’t obvious that U.S. is only interested in Azeri oil and don’t care about Armenians these people are faked they are not Christians
Mr Obama and Kerry love neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan, They LOVE OIL . Europe and Russia the same . So God bless America,…..!!! .
Mr Obama and Kerry both are nice characters but They LOVE OIL . Europe and Russia are the same . So God bless America,…..!!! .
Secretary of State John Kerry is asking for restraint on the Azeri-Artsakh border but does not come up with any plans to stop the killing & invasions by the Azeri’s month after month. NATO or United Nations troups should be sent on those borders to end the useless innocent killings of Artsakh Soldiers & Civilians.
How easy to forget Election promises…including GENOCIDE of
ARMENIANS by the Turks sic…kissing cousins to Azeri…
THANK GOD for FEARLESS POPE!!!!!!!
According to the US, when Azerbaijan breaks the cease fire and launches an attack as did happen, “both sides must show restraint”. In other words, Aggressor and victim are on the same plane so long as Azerbaijan is the aggressor, and until Armenia becomes the aggressor, they will promptly come out and condemn Armenia alone.
The US knows perfectly well what is going on, as does Russia. It seems the Russian response isn’t any better according to their news sources either, where it is obvious they are struggling to stay “neutral”. These powers don’t want hostilities, but yet fail to condemn the one starting the aggression, so how does that work? Ridiculous.
Hagop, agreed. But at least the Russian response doesn’t mention the “territorial integrity” of AzerBEYjan…
That’s true John, Russian media at least isn’t getting into typical anti-Armenia/pro-Azerbaijan rhetoric. I suppose Russia doesn’t want its relations with Azerbaijan harmed just yet.
Hagop,
Well said, except “until Armenia becomes the aggressor.” You meant until Armenians defend themselves, which they have to do.
Of course, Armenia cannot be the initiator of any aggression. It’s not in our interests.
West and Russia have enough of their problems right now. They would care less about Armenia’s loss of NKB. Also, it is evident, militarily and otherwise, that Azerbaijan has the upper hand. It is Armenia that is calling the international community for putting pressure on Azerbaijan to stop attacks. Russia wold not risk involvement in any more military conflict by taking either side when Putin has his hands full in Ukraine, Georgia, Syria and the growing restlessness in the Muslim republics at home. Moreover, Azerbaijan’s regaining of NKB means nothing for Russia as long as Azeris don’t make advancement so far as the Turkish border, uniting the two Turkic nations. Armenia is facing a catastrophic demography problem with the population is rapidly declining and it is constituting a national security problem. Not to mention other economic woes and corrupt government that cripple the country. The moment is simply right for Baku to initiate a military endeavor. With Turkey,Israel and USA to some extent backing Baku, difficult days are ahead for Yerevan. Let’s wait and see.
Hi Phil:
Glad to see friends of Turks visiting us at ArmenianWeekly.
Somewhat disappointed at the level of Turkophile propaganda you are peddling, but, to each his own.
{ West and Russia have enough of their problems right now. They would care less about Armenia’s loss of NKB}
How do you know Russia would care less about Armenia’s alleged “loss of NKB”? Do you have a source in the Kremlin?
And aren’t you a little too confident that your Turkic friends have the ability to effect the “loss of NKB”?
So far, after throwing everything they had at Armenians, nomad invaders have managed to penetrate a maximum of about 900 feet in few places of empty lands, and were thrown back.
They have lost about 300 KIA vs Armenians’ about 50 KIA.
They have lost 30 tanks (vs 7); 2 combat helicopters; several BMPs, trucks, about 8 drones,…..
In frustration the terrorist, criminal gang in Baku has ordered its war criminals to bombard civilian targets.
btw: NKR is not RoA’s to “lose”: People of Artsakh are the owners of their own republic.
{Azerbaijan’s regaining of NKB means nothing for Russia.. the growing restlessness in the Muslim republics at home. ..}
Really? Russia went all the way to Syria, rained death and destruction on Islamist cannibals and Erdgon’ oil stealing operation to prevent the Islamist terrorist takeover of Syria, and she is going to allow Erdogan to establish an Islamist terrorist base right under Russia’s nose?
And there is no “growing restlessness”: there are occasional terrorist acts.
{ Armenia is facing a catastrophic demography problem with the population is rapidly declining and it is constituting a national security problem. }
No, her population is not rapidly declining. Demographics is an issue, but there is nothing so-called “catastrophic”.
And despite the rhetoric from Baku, independent analysis of voter rolls, number of children entering school, etc indicate Azerbaijan’s actual population is no more than 6-7 million. The rest are in Russia, scratching out a living selling fruits and vegetables.
{Not to mention other economic woes and corrupt government that cripple the country.}
What economic woes? What corrupt government? Are you referring to Azerbaijan?
Azerbaijan’ income has crashed with the crash of oil prices.
There is a glut of oil all over the world: it will get worse, with Iran entering world markets.
Jane’s Defense Weekly estimates Azerbaijan will slash its defense spending by 40% in 2016.
Azerbaijan’s average monthly salary now ($300) is even lower than Armenia’s ($360).
The rest of your prognostications are as plausible as the ones I debunked.
Indeed, let’s wait and see.
Phil,
So what exactly do you want Armenians to do? Become willing victims of Azeri attacks like a herd of sheep?
And if nobody cares, why do YOU care so much to come here and leave your cynical comment? Did we ask for your help?
Very impressed by the depth of your analysis, btw.
Sounds like wishful thinking, and disrespectful to this forum…
The world leaders are not interested in what is right or rightous. They only respect money and will sell arms to anyone who pays. Let us not wait for a miraculous change of conscience and put our hopes on any other country fighting our battles. All we need to do at the moment is help our country to survive these criminal invasions by supporting Armenoa and Artsakh in any way we can, i.e. financial, moral, physical and exposing the evil action of the Azeris in the world media. Our homeland needs to have the military strenght to repulse all Azeri agressions punitively. This will create the necessary reaction in Azerbaijan to get rid of their corrupt government. So lets unite and help.
Avery you make me laugh man. You dismiss other people yet show no source of your own claims. 50 year old armchair general always criticizing everyone Turk or Armenian. Why don’t you go fight? I also think your confusing Putin’s 30 ruble Internet army (Putin Trolls) being Turkish. You know deep down that those figures are bias and exaggerated.
The time is approaching for Azerbaijan, Aliyev & Erdogan. Solar panels and new Technological advancement in Science the oil will remain for them to bathe their feet.
(Muhtesem Yuzyil // April 6, 2016 at 4:54 am //)
{… show no source of your own claims}
Tell me which claims, and I’ll give you the source.
{50 year old armchair general always criticizing everyone Turk or Armenian. Why don’t you go fight?}
I resent that: I am a 39 year old armchair Field Marshal, not some measly general.
Why don’t I go to fight? Show me a single post where I exhorted others to go and fight.
{…those figures are bias and exaggerated}
Which figures?