Category: 2022

Call for End to U.S. Aid Blockade to At-Risk Artsakh Population

WASHINGTON—Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV) were joined by a bi-partisan group of over 45 Members of Congress in calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power to “take immediate steps dedicating significant resources” to support the at-risk Armenian population of Artsakh, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

“Our American blockade on U.S. humanitarian aid to Artsakh – as a practical matter – effectively abets Azerbaijan’s attempts to strangle Artsakh’s population, ethnically cleansing the indigenous population of a region at the very core of the ancient Armenian homeland,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “It’s wrong. Our government knows it’s wrong. It has to stop – and, with sufficient Congressional leadership, it will.”

The Congressional letter, sent on the thirty-first anniversary of the Republic of Artsakh’s declaration of independence, notes that, “the people of Artsakh continue to face severe hardships caused both by the deadly 44-day war that Azerbaijani forces provoked in 2020 and the ongoing aggressions committed against innocent civilians.”  The letter specifically calls on the State Department and USAID to “to significantly increase funding that will directly assist the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh, including assistance for housing, food security, water and sanitation, health care, rehabilitation, and demining and UXO clearance services they need to safely rebuild their lives, homes, and communities. We also urge you to take every action possible to protect the historic and cultural Armenian sites in territory held by Azerbaijan, which many reports indicate are currently under threat.”

Members of Congress also asked for an update on Biden Administration efforts to assist the people of Artsakh and to conduct an updated needs assessment on the humanitarian crisis there, to be shared with Congress to best determine Fiscal Year 2023 U.S. assistance levels.

Joining Representatives Pallone and Titus in cosigning the Congressional letter on Artsakh assistance are Representatives: Nanette Barragan (D-CA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Andre Carson (D-IN), Judy Chu (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), Katherine Clark (D-MA), Lou Correa (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jason Crow (D-CO), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Jim Himes (D-CT), William Keating (D-MA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), James Langevin (D-RI), John Larson (D-CT), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Susie Lee (D-NV), Mike Levin (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), James McGovern (D-MA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Joseph Morelle (D-NY), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Scott Peters (D-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Katie Porter (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Jackie Speier (D-CA), David Trone (D-MD), and David Valadao (R-CA).

On August 22nd, ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian, in letters sent to Congressional leadership and rank and file U.S. Senate and House members, called for Congressional inquiries into the Biden administration’s effective blockade on humanitarian aid to Armenian families of Artsakh.  “America must not be complicit in the ethnic-cleansing of Artsakh by Azerbaijan,” stressed Hamparian.

Text of Congressional Letter to Secretary of State Blinken and USAID Administrator Power

September 2, 2022

Dear Secretary Blinken and Administrator Power:

We are deeply concerned by the lack of meaningful humanitarian aid to the vulnerable Armenian population in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and urge you to take immediate steps dedicating significant resources to these individuals.
 
The people of Artsakh continue to face severe hardships caused both by the deadly 44-day war that Azerbaijani forces provoked in 2020 and the ongoing aggressions committed against innocent civilians. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has acknowledged that over 90,000 refugees displaced to Armenia, the majority of whom are women, children, and elderly, are suffering through an acute humanitarian crisis.

The $5,000,000 in Fiscal Year 2021 funding that USAID has committed, and the assistance allocated through the United Nations’ Armenia Interagency Response Plan (IA-RP) have been wholly insufficient to address this crisis. Many families have bravely returned to their homes in Artsakh despite the ongoing threat of violence from Azerbaijani troops and the food, shelter, and energy insecurities they face. We are also extremely concerned that the individuals who remain in Artsakh have not received any of the previously allocated U.S. assistance.

Our country has historically promoted peace in Artsakh through U.S. government-funded landmine and unexploded ordnance clearance efforts. We have also supported rebuilding through millions of dollars of direct aid for humanitarian assistance initiatives like maternal health care and clean drinking water projects. The need for this assistance has only grown due to Azerbaijan’s indiscriminate bombing campaigns in 2020 and the ongoing provocations by their troops which further endanger food, water, energy, and other critical resources for these communities. It is especially urgent because of the recent evacuation and closure of the Lachin/Berdzor corridor, forcing Armenian families to leave their homes and shutting off a vital route used for transportation and communications between Artsakh and Armenia.

We strongly urge the Department of State and USAID to significantly increase funding that will directly assist the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh, including assistance for housing, food security, water and sanitation, health care, rehabilitation, and demining and UXO clearance services they need to safely rebuild their lives, homes, and communities. We also urge you to take every action possible to protect the historic and cultural Armenian sites in territory held by Azerbaijan, which many reports indicate are currently under threat.

We request an update on the specific actions the Biden Administration has taken to help at-risk Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh and any planned actions moving forward, including information on programs, partners, budgets, and deliverables. This update should differentiate between which resources were allocated to the Republic of Armenia to aid displaced people and the assistance allocated to those still living in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Additionally, the most recent publicly available report from USAID on Nagorno-Karabakh from February 2021 is outdated and no longer provides the data that we need to make sound policy decisions. We strongly urge you to conduct an updated needs assessment on the humanitarian crisis and share it with interested stakeholders as soon as possible.

We appreciate your consideration of these requests and look forward to your timely reply.

Sincerely,

A day filled with celebrations and solemn commemorations marking the 31st anniversary of Artsakh’s Declaration of Independence culminated in a march and gathering in Stepanakert, attended by Artsakh President Arayik Haruyunyan and almost all of Artsakh’s high-ranking officials.

Noticeably absent, for a second year, were any representatives from Armenia’s government. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry and other officials simply issued statements with an identical message of not preserving Artsakh’s independence, but rather guaranteeing the security of Artsakh’s population through the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs.

Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan was joined by his predecessor Bako Sahakian in paying respect to martyrs

Calling Artsakh’s Declaration of Independence “a logical consequence of the policy of ethnic cleansing against Armenians by the Azerbaijani SSR,” Armenia’s foreign ministry said in a statement that Azerbaijan continues such a policy today. 

“In contrast to the constant statements by the authorities of Azerbaijan that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the Nagorno-Karabakh territorial unit no longer exist, it is a fact that around 120,000 Armenians continue to live in Nagorno-Karabakh, and as a member of the international community, they have equal and inalienable rights, and the conflict cannot be considered as resolved until the core needs of the Armenians of Artsakh are not addressed,” said Armenia’s foreign ministry. 
“Ensuring the security and rights of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh as well as a comprehensive and lasting resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by using the experience and potential of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, continue to be a milestone for achieving stability and peace in the South Caucasus,” added the official Yerevan.

“The Republic of Armenia continues to be committed to providing all the necessary conditions for the secure life of the people of Artsakh in their homeland,” Armenia’s foreign ministry said.

Earlier in the day President Harutyunyan was joined by his predecessor, Bako Sahakian, and other officials at the Stepanakert Memorial and Military Pantheon to pay tribute to the memory of the fallen troops.

Harutyunyan and Sahakian laid flowers and wreaths at the graves of the men and women who sacrificed their lives for Artsakh’s independence and freedom.

The Primate of the Artsakh Diocese Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, Artsakh government officials, Defense Army leadership and guests from Armenia participated in the official ceremony, the Artsakh presidential office said in a statement.

“The 44-Day War of 2020 became a new disaster for the Armenian people, claiming the lives of thousands of our brave sons, destroying many destinies. We are grateful to all martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the independence of the Fatherland and the dignified existence of the Armenian people, we bow before their bright memory and before their proud relatives,” the Artsakh president said in an address to the nation.

President Harutyunyan also thanked Armenians in Armenia and Diaspora for their support, as well as the Russian Federation for their mission in Artsakh, and all countries, political officials who have supported Artsakh by remaining committed to justice and universal values of democracy and humanitarianism.

“After 31 years, the people of Artsakh are again decisively and resolutely announcing that despite all trials of time, they are committed to their adopted decision, to their path, which is irreversible and unshakable. Artsakh must always stand, must always be Armenian, and must always continue its course on the path to independence,” the Artsakh president said.

Artsakh’s Foreign Minister David Babayan said that Artsakh’s declaration of independence was the most ambitious geopolitical step 31 years ago.

“Today, we should evaluate this day much more because now is a crucial moment for Artsakh. Now Artsakh is facing existential challenges. We should do everything for Artsakh to be saved because the future of Armenian statehood and Armenian people depends on the salvation of Artsakh,” Babayan told Armenpress.

“Yes, the situation is complex, but in addition to serious challenges there are also opportunities. The current geopolitical developments show that there are power centers that are interested in the existence of Artsakh. Nevertheless, the existence of Artsakh depends mostly on us, we must take respective steps,” Babayan added.

“We should jointly do everything so that the course and history of Artsakh continue,” he stated, expressing confidence that after the third heavy Artsakh war, the meaning of the September 2 holiday has become more important.

“The Republic of Artsakh is the son of all Armenians. Therefore, we should take joint steps to overcome the current situation and resist the existing challenges. Artsakh, Armenia and the Diaspora must work jointly, we must be able to save what we have,” Babayan added.

Babayan will be in Los Angeles to headline the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region’s Grassroots Conference, and a day late be honored by the organization with its “Freedom Awards” at its banquet.