An Open Letter to US Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy from FLEX Alumni of Armenia

The United States should act against the aggression of Azerbaijan, Turkey and international terrorist groups as a matter of responsibility to protect the Armenian people.

US Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy pictured during an Oct. 5, 2020 meeting with Armenia’s MoD

Dear Ambassador Tracy,

When FLEX finalists are selected from Armenia to start their exchange year in the United States, we are told to be responsible citizens not only of our country but also the world. As FLEX students, we were often told that we are ambassadors of Armenian culture in the United States and of American culture in Armenia. Living up to the civic and moral standards taught by the FLEX program, granted the status of intercultural ambassadors, we are obliged to urge you to act when a US agency is existentially important, though lacking.

We call upon you, as the ambassador of the United States to Armenia, to urge your government of the United States to condemn the thoroughly preplanned military aggression against the peaceful population of Nagorno Karabakh/Artsakh and Armenia by Azerbaijan, NATO member Turkey and terrorists which the United States has been fighting for years. This aggression has triggered a deadly and devastating war, amid the global pandemic of COVID-19, threatening not only regional security, but also global peace, democracy and stability.

Almost a century ago, Armenia faced a similar humanitarian disaster of the Armenian Genocide, and Americans did what made America so great. The American Near East Relief saved thousands of Armenian lives. Today our generation faces a similar danger. Right now, the generations of those who were miraculously and heroically saved by the American people are facing an equal threat.

Firstly, Azerbaijan has initiated unprovoked hostilities against Armenia and Artsakh. This was not unexpected. The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, openly shared Armenophobic statements during the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly, calling Armenia a terrorist country that is against peace, while himself inviting terrorists to the border of Nagorno Karabakh. As proud representatives of American and Armenian values, we understand that this war was initiated by the dictatorial leadership of Azerbaijan and Turkey, and not by the people of Azerbaijan, among which are our fellow FLEX alumni, who could also benefit from freedom and democracy that the United States is capable of helping to nurture, a bond which could also prevent further war in our region.

Secondly, the NATO member Turkey is not only directly and militarily involved in the war, but also recruits terrorist rebel fighters from Syria and Libya to fight against the Armenian people, both in Nagorno Karabakh and in Armenia. During our exchange years many of us were taken to 9/11 Memorial in New York City, and were taught about the threat that terrorism poses to all that is American. Today, various international news outlets, including CNN, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, Reuters and various government officials including French President Emmanuel Macron and intelligence services of several countries, confirm the truthfulness of these statements. On the other hand, the United States, the global leader of the fight against terrorism of the alliance of democracy, stays quiet. The de-jure unrecognized Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh has become the main power in the fight against terrorism in our region and is preventing its further expansion.

Thirdly, in gross violation of international humanitarian law and human rights, Azerbaijan and Turkey are targeting civilians, key civilian infrastructure and journalists. From September 27 to October 5, 20 civilian casualties, 93 wounded, and over 5,800 damaged properties and key civilian infrastructures in Artsakh, as reported by the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh. As a result of Azerbaijani aggression, over 50% of the population of Nagorno Karabakh (75,000 children, women, elderly) had to leave their homes. These facts clearly represent the wishes of the Azerbaijani government, which is to displace or destroy the Armenian population who inhabit the territories of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh).

Azerbaijan’s targeted attacks on civilian infrastructures in Nagorno-Karabakh resulted in heavy injuries, among them several local and international journalists. Particularly, a reporter from the French Le Monde, Allan Kaval, and a Russian reporter Yuriy Kotenok, editor-in-chief of Segodnya.ru had to go through immediate medical surgery.

Lastly, in 2006 when the Armenian Jugha cemetery was completely destroyed in Azerbaijan the world was silently mourning, if at all. Today, Azerbaijan continues the cultural genocide of the Armenian heritage in Nagorno Karabakh. A preservation of incomparable archeological significance, the city of Tigranakert, dated back to the 1st-century BC, is under consistent shelling. On the 8th of October, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces double shelled the Saint Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi, a place of pilgrimage and a national symbol to Armenians from around the world. 

As FLEX alumni, carrying the values of democracy, responsible citizenship and human rights, we are obliged to raise our voice in protest and to appeal to you and the government of the United States in order to:

  1. Refrain from both-siding in its calls and statements to end hostilities, while even the leadership of Azerbaijan does not try to hide its engagement in the offensive.
  2. Immediately suspend all military cooperation with Azerbaijan and Turkey until further investigation regarding the use of American technology and taxpayers’ money against the civilian population and other abuses of human rights.  
  3. Thoroughly investigate the infiltration of terrorists by Azerbaijan and Turkey, in line with other world leaders and international media․
  4. Apply sanctions against those states and relevant politicians that have been engaged in the recruitment of terrorists and stand behind the gross violations of international humanitarian law against the civilian population of Artsakh. 
  5. Restore the Section 907, U.S. Ban on Aid to Azerbaijan until Azerbaijan takes demonstrable steps to cease offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
  6. Employ all leverages at the disposal of the US government to stop Turkey’s meddling and its political, military, financial and criminal role in the hazardous escalation of war.   
  7. Take immediate measures to organize and provide humanitarian aid to the children, women and elderly of Artsakh who found refuge in Armenia and the civilians suffering under the daily and deliberate shelling in the towns and villages of Nagorno Karabakh. 
  8. Consider the right of the people of Nagorno Karabakh to self-determination based on their claim of remedial secession as the only possible guarantee that can ensure their fundamental right to life. This is an aspect of utmost importance, once more proven by the actions of the Azerbaijani state against the civilian population and the recruitment of terrorists against them.
  9. We urge the American government to take immediate actions in coherence with global human rights. We hope the efforts of your noble ancestors in giving a helping hand to the Armenian genocide survivors will not be wasted, and that your decisive moves will prevent further tragedies.

Regards,
FLEX Alumni of Armenia

(The letter is an individual initiative of FLEX Alumni and does not represent the opinion of the American Councils and FLEX Alumni Program in Armenia)

Yuri Ghazaryan
Anna Hovhannisyan
Vanesa Grigoryan
Donara Davtyan
Gayane Khachikyan
Lilit Nersisyan
Anna Amatuni
Margarit Martirosyan
Artavazd Ganjalyan
Marietta Yesayan
Meri Vardanyan
Anzhelika Harutyunyan
Argishti Yeghyan
Tatev Kyosababyan
Narek Sahakyan
Syuzanna Grigoryan
Hasmik Haroyan
Ida Yolchyan
Leyli Tadevosyan
Lida Asilyan
Kristine Hambardzumyan
Taguhi Oganesyan
Alla Harutyunyan
Anush Margaryan
Anzhelika Minasyan Sevak
Lilit Yeghiazaryan
Areg Aghajanyan
Susanna Ghazoyan
Mariam Grigoryan
Anahit Sukiasyan
Lilit Khlghatyan
Narine Baghdasaryan
Anzhela Karapetyan
Arusyak Poghosyan
Anna Andreasyan
Narek Sukiasyan
Lilia Mamikonyan
Susanna Avagyan
Nare Patatanyan
Kima Grigoryan
Tatevik Gishyan
Rima Marutyan
Anna Nikoghosyan
Meri Torosyan
Nane Vardanyan
Nane Avedikian
Gohar Minasyan
Ani Ivanyan
Zoya Galstyan
Ani Avanesyan
Lilit Navasardyan
Hripsime Manukyan
Anna Serobyan
Ashkhen Arakelyan
Larisa Aslanyan
Mane Gevorgyan
Zhenya Ghukasyan
Diana Hovhannisyan
Lusya Manukyan
Davit Karapetyan
Anna Martirosyan
Armen Ghukasyan
Diana Zakaryan
Yanina Husikyan
Erik Mkhitaryan
Lilit Ghazaryan
Elen Muradyan
Mane Hovhannisyan
Ani Arakelyan
Margarit Gasparyan
Armine Gasparyan
Milena Yeritsyan
Robert Sukiasyan
Tamara Harutyunyan
Lusine Avetisyan
Anaida Fahradyan
Mane Saroyan
Anahit Apresyan
Sona Vardanyan
Arman Azizyan
Nane Ohanyan
Sona Zakaryan
Hasmik Asatrian-Azoyan
Liana Karapetyan
Hovhannes Demirtshyan
Gayane Gasparyan
Diana Mayilyan
Gevorg Rashoyan
Armine Arakelyan
Satenik Simonian
Aregnaz Manukyan
Gayane Aghabalyan
Manik Khachatryan
Andranik Gomtsyan
Tatevik Avagyan
Bella Karapetyan
Vahagn Azaryan
Sona Karapetyan
Astghik Melkonyan
Magda Markosyan
Nelly Harutyunyan
Ani Danielyan
Lusine Shahnazaryan
Aram Arakelyan
Inga Danielyan
Zina Hovhannisyan
Lida Asilyan
Anna Misakyan
Anna Nikoghosyan
Hasmik Asatrian-Azoyan
Vahan Abrahamyan
Ashkhen Arakelyan
Lilit Yenokyan
Gohar Piliposyan
Azniv Tadevosyan
Jemma Tadevosyan
Nane Avedikian
Nane Kostandyan
Hasmik Haroyan
Arthur Boynagryan
Anzhelika Minasyan
Liana Minasyan
Inesa Tonoyan
Sona Nahapetyan
David Sirunyan
Marianna Ghazaryan
Norayr Amirkhanyan
Tatevik Davtyan
Sona Arustamyan
Meri Minasyan
Ani Shekoyan
Alina Babayan
Vardikyan Mariam
Anush Isoyan
Irina Balayan
Armine Grigoryan
Lilit Yeghiazaryan
Narek Martirosyan
Sonya Armaghanyan
Ani Aghajanyan
Anna Gharibyan
Lusine Mamikonyan
Alvard Mamikonyan
Lilit Vardanyan
Inna Mkrtchyan
Syuzeta Martirosyan
Vardan Grigoryan
Zhanna Mikayelyan
Lilit Nersisyan
Bella Harutyunyan
Arpi Baghdasaryan
Susanna Khachatryan
Armine Grigoryan
Gagik Klekchyan
Sonya Hakobyan
Anna Minasyan
Lilit Ghandilyan
Sona Tamazyan
Narek Davtyan
Yeva Gasparyan
Sona Tamazyan
Shushan Ghandilyan
Gohar Petrossian
Varduhi Yeghikyan
Karen Gishyan
Hripsime Zohrabyan
Nazeli Karapetyan
Anahit Tumanyan
Davit Avagyan
Mane Saroyan
Grigor Petrosyan
Arevik Danielyan
Syuzanna Kirakosyan
Lianna Hovhannisyan
Arpine Mkrtchyan
Khachatur Margaryan
Liana Tadevosyan
Lilit Babloyan
Natela Azoyan
Arman Asryan
Ani Gevorgyan
Sona Badalyan
Mariam Kilburn
Hovhannes Harutyunyan
Gevorg Rashoyan
Anush Shirvanyan
Hasmik Asatrian-Azoyan
Albert Arsenyan
Inna Mkrtchyan
Syuzanna Hovsepyan
Nina Kirakosyan
Hasmik Tonapetyan
Ashkhen Arakelyan
Diana Bayatyan
Meri Vardanyan
Khachatur Yeliazyan
Anush Arsenyan
Anahit Martirosyan Levon
Varduhi Yeghikyan
Shoghik Mkrtchyan
Sona Sardaryan
Anna Ayvazyan
Anahit Bagiryan
Khanum Gevorgyan
Lusine Poghosyan
Elza Galstyan

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2 Comments

  1. The genocide denying-Madam-Ambassador does not tell you that she represents the genocide-denying-US-State-Department. FLEX Alumni – forget everything you learned from a country that has genocidal-Turkey as its NATO-ally. US-NATO-ally Turkey uses American-made weapons, NATO-trained-Turkish-soldiers and American-made-F16-fighter-jets to bomb and kill Armenians in Armenia and Artsakh.

  2. She has been pontificating since day one, even in this picture she is doing it; in truth Armenia should ask her to go home until a new one is appointed, and here is why. I’ll point just one why. Remember when Azerbaijan threatened to hit Armenia’s Nuclear Power plant, she was silent, yet Azerbaijan’s US Ambassador wasted no time to condemn Armenian protesters in Los Angeles…She is the mouth piece of the current Administration, which is why Armenians must not Vote for Donald Trump

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