2024-08-05 07:58:48
During the congressional briefings organized by the Armenian American Committee, meeting with Congressmen James Costa and Brad Sherman, Gegham Stepanyan, human rights defender of the Artsakh Republic, and Artak Beglaryan, former Minister of State, presented the inalienable rights, national interests and democratic aspirations of the Artsakh people. This was reported by the Central Office of the ARF Bureau of Hay Dat.
“During the press conference, Brad Sherman stated: “We are here to demand the right of safe return of Artsakh refugees to their homes, homes that in many cases have been inhabited by their families for hundreds of years. Sherman emphasized the importance of applying the restrictions of Resolution 907, the suspension of US aid to Azerbaijan, as well as the need to impose sanctions on the Aliyev regime for the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh. Addressing Aliyev’s aggressive and false rhetoric that Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, is “Azerbaijani territory”, Congressman Sherman urged the Biden administration to provide defense ammunition to Armenia to “avoid the next tragedy planned by Baku”. The congressman concluded his speech by responding to Aliyev, who claims that his main enemies are the Armenians of the world. “Well, I have news for you, Mr. Aliyev. Your main enemies are all the people of the world who believe in democracy, who believe in human rights and who believe in justice.”
Condemning Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, Deputy Costa noted that the US should do more to provide humanitarian aid to the forcibly displaced population of Artsakh. Continuing his speech, the congressman noted: “We must hold the Azerbaijani government accountable not only for ethnic cleansing, but also for cultural genocide… I think the threats that Azerbaijan is making against Armenia are serious and real. Therefore, they should be treated as such.” He also called on the USA to take concrete steps to ensure the return of Artsakh leaders and Armenian prisoners of war held illegally by Azerbaijan.
During the briefing, Stepanyan and Beglaryan presented their own testimonies about the harsh realities of Azerbaijan’s ten-month blockade of Artsakh, which culminated in 2023. with the genocidal attack of September, as a result of which Artsakh was forcibly emptied. The speakers spoke about the history of Azerbaijan’s deliberate attacks against Artsakh Armenians, which was the basis for the 2023. Genocide.
The guests from Artsakh also emphasized the responsibility of the USA to Azerbaijan for the Genocide in Artsakh, highlighting among others:
Imposing sanctions on Azerbaijan based on the passage of Senate Resolution S.3000, which mandates full implementation of Resolution 907. Applying Magnitsky sanctions for war crimes and ethnic cleansing.
US assistance to forcibly displaced Armenians in Artsakh, guaranteeing the safe return of forcibly displaced Armenians.
Expanding US and international efforts to help ensure the 2023 leaders of Artsakh captured in September and 2020 the immediate release of illegally held prisoners of war after the Azerbaijani-Turkish attacks.
Preservation of the Armenian cultural and religious heritage of Artsakh.
Stepanyan and Beglaryan emphasized that without international efforts aimed at realizing the right of safe return of the people of Artsakh and without responsibility for committed crimes, it will be impossible to establish stable peace in the region. They also emphasized that the systemic anti-Armenian hatred fueled by the government of Azerbaijan should be eradicated in order to ensure a stable settlement of the conflict and regional stability.
The Armenian American Committee, which accompanied Gegham Stepanyan and Artak Beglaryan to the top of the Capitol, continues its work in the direction of increasing American involvement in solving the above-mentioned problems,” the message states.