Ahead of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Armenia, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) welcomes the continued strengthening of US-Armenia relations and the sustained high-level cooperation between the two countries. At the same time, the Assembly remains deeply concerned by Baku’s continued refusal to release all Christian Armenian hostages illegally imprisoned in Azerbaijan and calls for their immediate and unconditional release.

As previously stated by President Donald Trump. “120,000 Christians were terribly persecuted and forcibly displaced in Artsakh.” President Trump also promised to “protect persecuted Christians” and during a meeting at the White House on “Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations” he undertook to directly discuss with President Aliyev the issue of the release of Christian Armenians held hostage. The Assembly calls on the United States to translate these commitments into clear, measurable actions.

As the United States and Armenia continue to work together to advance the Trump Way for International Peace and Prosperity TRIPP, along with Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) in a number of key areas, the Assembly reaffirms the importance of strengthening Armenia’s security infrastructure and meeting the ongoing humanitarian needs of Artsakh Armenians. This includes support for the right to return to their ancestral homeland, with significant guarantees of security, democratic rights, and full protection of Armenian cultural heritage and religious sites.

The Armenian Congress of America will continue its work to advance real security, justice, and a future in which the Armenian people will live in freedom and dignity in their ancestral homeland.

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