Category: 2021

A “new transport corridor will pass through Zangezur, a historic territory of Azerbaijan, and will connect mainland Azerbaijan with its integral part, the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, and Turkey,” Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said during a speech at an economic conference.

Aliyev also declared that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been resolved and all United Nations Security Council resolutions have been fulfilled through its aggressive attack on Artsakh on September 27, which sparked a full-blown war.

With such a provocative statement, calling Zangezur an ‘historic Azerbaijani territory’ and making reference to an imaginary corridor, the President of Azerbaijan deliberately undermines the implementation of the November 9 and January 11 trilateral statements,” said Armenia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan, who, once again, stressed that “Article 9 of the November 9 trilateral statement does not mention the establishment of a corridor.”

“Such rhetoric contradicts Azerbaijan’s obligations. It is a blatant challenge to international law, and in no way does it contribute to the stability of the region and threatens all states in the region,” added Naghdalyan.

“The statements of the President of Azerbaijan that Azerbaijan has resolved the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by the use of force further illustrates who unleashed the war and who is leading the region through new challenges and further destabilization,” explained Naghdalyan

“As always, Azerbaijan is distorting the provisions of the UN Security Council resolutions, while these same resolutions express their support for the Minsk Group peace process, headed by the Minsk Group Co-Chairs,” said Naghdalyan.

“With his statements on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, the President of Azerbaijan contradicts the position of the international community, and first of all, the position of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship and Co-Chair countries, which clearly emphasizes the imperative of comprehensive settlement of the conflict. It is obvious to us that the attempt to suppress the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination through the use of force cannot create grounds for the settlement of the conflict. The realization of the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination and the elimination of the consequences of the war are the core elements of the peace process,” explained Naghdalyan.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the need for the immediate return of prisoners of war, hostages and other captives by Azerbaijan during a telephone conversation with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Pashinyan’s office said on Friday.

In regard to the POW issue, Blinken emphasized the importance of the efforts of the OSCE Minks Group co-chairs and expressed Washington’s readiness to continue to play a role to resolve the conflict, according to the statement issued by Pashinyan’s office.

In discussing the post-war situation in the region, the need to resume the peace process with the Minsk Group co-chairs was stressed.

“The Secretary of State stressed the importance of developing partnership with Armenia. He praised Armenia’s achievements in the field of democracy and assured that the United States will continue to provide assistance to Armenia’s reforms agenda,” said Pashinyan’s office.

“The sides attached importance to working together to strengthen the rule of law in Armenia, fighting against corruption, implementing reforms in the justice system and the police.
Nikol Pashinyan thanked the American side for the readiness to provide assistance,” added the statement from the prime minister’s office.

Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Stakes out Strong Stand During Confirmation Hearing for Senior State Department Officials

WASHINGTON–-Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) – Chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee – pressed the Biden Administration to join Congress in properly recognizing the Armenian Genocide and also to work for the release of Armenian hostages illegally held by the Azerbaijani government, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

“Whether it’s recognizing the Armenian Genocide or demanding the release of Armenian POWs, Senator Menendez is a principled, powerful, and persistent advocate – effectively advancing both our U.S. interests and our American values,” said ANCA Eastern Region Chair and New Jersey resident Ani Tchaghlasian. “Armenians across New Jersey and around the nation thank Senator Menendez for his leadership on issues of special concern to our community and coalition partners.”

The Garden State’s senior Senator made the remarks during the confirmation process for Wendy Sherman, who has been nominated to serve as Deputy Secretary of State, the agency’s number two position.

With regard to U.S. policy on the Armenian Genocide, Sen. Menendez states, “I hope the President will keep his commitment to recognize the Armenian Genocide. The United States Senate, by unanimous consent, passed it. Last year I was proud to sponsor that. The House of Representatives has passed it. It’s time for the President of the United States to do what the rest of the Congress of the United States – as representatives of the American people – which is to recognize the Genocide. Let’s call history for what it is.”  Sen. Menendez has already started reaching out to Senate colleagues to join him in sending a joint letter to President Biden urging him to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide in the annual April 24th commemorative statement.

Senator Menendez’s statement on the Armenian Genocide

Sen. Menendez went on to call for greater U.S. engagement in the OSCE Minsk Group mediation of the Artsakh crisis, including active leadership in securing the release of over 200 Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives illegally held by Azerbaijan some 4 months after the disastrous November 9th ceasefire agreement.

“We will look to help the people of Armenia and help to facilitate the release of POWs that the Azerbaijanis have,” stated Sen. Menendez.  “It is in violation of international law what they’re doing. We need to speak out, which the previous administration did not, and we need to work to try to get that region to look forward to what the Minsk process was. There is some suggestion that this is all over. No. it’s not. And we need to the POWS released and we have to help Armenia, as it gets all of these refugees back into their country.”

Senator Menendez’s remarks regarding the release of Armenian POWs

Take action in support of honest American remembrance of the Armenian Genocide, and demanding demanding Azerbaijan’s release of Armenian hostages.

ANCA issues nationwide call to action – anca.org/prisoners – in support of bipartisan measure

WASHINGTON—The Armenian National Committee of America on Friday welcomed new legislation to be introduced by Congressional Armenian Caucus leaders calling on Azerbaijan to immediately release more than 200 Armenian prisoners of war and captured civilians, illegally kept hostage over 100 days after the November 9 ceasefire statement between Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia.

This bipartisan U.S. House resolution, spearheaded by Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Jackie Speier (D-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), and Frank Pallone Jr.(D-NJ), cites findings that Azerbaijani military forces have mistreated ethnic Armenian prisoners of war and subjected them to “physical abuse and humiliation,” including beheadings, summary executions, and the desecration of human remains.

The measure specifically highlights “significant concern that female detainees in particular could be subject to sexual assaults and other mistreatment,” and asks the State Department to “to engage at all levels with Azerbaijani authorities including through the OSCE Minsk Group process to make clear the importance of adhering to their obligations under the November 9th statement & international law to immediately release all prisoners of war and captured civilians.”

“The ANCA welcomes this powerful Congressional call for strong and sustained American leadership in demanding Azerbaijan’s immediate release of more than 200 illegally held Armenian hostages,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Suren Hamparian. “We thank Congressman Schiff and his colleagues in the leadership of the Armenian Caucus – Representatives Pallone, Bilirakis, Speier, and Valadao – for advancing this bipartisan initiative.”

Armenian Caucus leaders circulated a letter to their U.S. House colleagues asking them to join as original cosponsors of the measure, set to be introduced in the next week.

The ANCA call to action – anca.org/prisoners – urges U.S. House Members to support passage of the resolution seeking the release of these hostages, while encouraging Senators to press for progress on this urgent humanitarian priority, and calling on President Biden to take immediate, decisive action to save these Armenia prisoners.

The text of the resolution, as shared with U.S. House Members, is provided below.

U.S. House Representatives Resolution

Expressing the Sense of the House of Representatives That Azerbaijan Immediately Release All Prisoners of War and Captured Civilians

Whereas on September 27 2020, Azerbaijan, with support from Turkey and foreign militia groups, launched a military assault on Nagorno Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, resulting in the deaths of thousands and displacing tens of thousands of ethnic Armenian residents;

Whereas on November 9 2020, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia signed a tripartite statement to end the conflict;

Whereas in signing the November 9 statement, all parties agreed that the “exchange of prisoners of war, hostages and other detainees as well as the remains of the fatalities shall be carried out”;

Whereas the third Geneva Convention, of which Azerbaijan is a signatory, and international law require the release of Prisoners of War and captured civilians upon the cessation of hostilities and require that all detainees be treated humanely;

Whereas despite Azerbaijan’s obligations under the Geneva Conventions and their commitments in signing the November 9 statement, more than 100 days after the end of the conflict, the government of Azerbaijan continues to detain an estimated 200 Armenian prisoners of war, hostages, and detained persons, seeking to misrepresent their status to justify their continued captivity;

Whereas Human Rights Watch reported in December 2020 found that Azerbaijani military forces had mistreated ethnic Armenian prisoners of war and subjected them to “physical abuse and humiliation”;

Whereas Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights issued a report on the conflict “documenting crimes against humanity and other atrocities committed by Azerbaijani armed forces and Turkish-backed Islamist fighters against Armenians,” including beheadings, summary executions, and the desecration of human remains;

Whereas there is limited reliable information about the condition or treatment of prisoners of war and captured civilians, and there is significant concern that female detainees in particular could be subject to sexual assaults and other mistreatment;

Whereas Azerbaijan’s continued detainment of prisoners of war and captured civilians calls into serious question their commitment to human rights and negotiating an equitable, lasting peace settlement;

Whereas Armenia has fulfilled its obligations under the November 9 statement and international law by returning Azerbaijani prisoners of war;

Whereas the United States, along with France and Russia, is a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk group which was created to seek a durable and peaceful solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Therefore be it resolved, that the House of Representatives –

1. Calls upon Azerbaijan to immediately return all Armenian prisoners of war and captured civilians; and

2. Urges the State Department to engage at all levels with Azerbaijani authorities, including through the OSCE Minsk Group process, to make clear the importance of adhering to their obligations under the November 9 statement and international law to immediately release all prisoners of war and captured civilians.