#Karabakh #NagornoKarabakhRepublic #Azerbaijan #Artsakh #AdamSchiff #Armenia

#Karabakh #NagornoKarabakhRepublic #Azerbaijan #Artsakh #FrankPalloneJr #Armenia

The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) strongly condemns Azerbaijan’s escalation of hostilities against Nagorno Karabakh, and renews its call to reinstate and fully enforce Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, which prohibits assistance to Azerbaijan until it ceases its offensive actions. We deeply mourn the tragic loss of life.  The Assembly stands united with all Armenians to protect the freedom and security of the Nagorno Karabakh people in the face of these most s

WASHINGTON, DC –  Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional Armenian Issues Caucus, released the following statement condemning the newest wave of large-scale attacks by Azerbaijan against Nagorno Karabakh. “I strongly condemn Azerbaijan’s escalation of hostilities against Nagorno Karabakh, and I join the Obama Administration in urging an immediate de-escalation of the conflict. Azerbaijani President Aliyev’s threatening rhetoric has consiste

April 2, 2016 English Translation: The President of the Republic deeply regrets the serious incidents in Nagorno Karabakh, near the cease-fire, which resulted in several casualties including civilians. These events are the most serious and deadly since the agreement reached in 1994 when the conflict had already 30,000 deaths. The President of the Republic calls on the parties to exercise the utmost restraint and respect the immediate, total, and durable cease-fire. Absolute p

John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC April 2, 2016 The United States condemns in the strongest terms the large-scale ceasefire violations along the Nagorno Karabakh Line of Contact, which have resulted in a number of reported casualties, including civilians. We extend our condolences to all affected families. We urge the sides to show restraint, avoid further escalation, and strictly adhere to the ceasefire. The unstable situation on the ground demonstrates why the si

On March 31, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with OSCE Minsk Group US. Co-Chair James Warlick to discuss the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Nalbandian is in Washington, D.C. as part of the Armenian Delegation to the Nuclear Security Summit, accompanying President Serzh Sargsyan. Nalbandian pointed out to Warlick Azerbaijan’s continuous ceasefire violations, especially during recent holidays. On March 21, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs made a statement asking both

Requests $15 Million to Armenia for Refugees Forced to Flee Genocide by ISIS WASHINGTON, D.C. – On March 24, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) Executive Director Bryan Ardouny submitted testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs where he outlined nine key policy priorities for the Armenian American community in Fiscal Year (FY) 2017. Given Azerbaijan’s blatant ceasefire violations, the Assembly called upon t

By Siranush Ghazanchyan (ArmRadio) – “The lasting solution to the Karabakh conflict is a priority for us,” U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick said in an interview with Voice of America. “The attempts to violate the ceasefire are a cause of great concern for us, the clashes reported in January last year were unprecedented since the conclusion of the ceasefire agreement. The most worrisome are the losses suffered by the peaceful population, we condemn the use o

Armenian Assembly-backed Letter Spearheaded by Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Rep. Robert Dold (R-IL) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, 33 Members of Congress sent a letter to the Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY) in support of continued U.S. assistance in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 budget for the Republics of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, the S

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, members of the Congressional Armenian Issues Caucus met with the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills. The members in attendance were Co-Chairs Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Robert Dold (R-IL), as well as Congressmen David Cicilline (D-RI), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) and David Valadao (R-CA). The discussion focused on expanding the economic partnership between the United States and Armenia particularly in the tourism sector, the escalating violence

(L-R): Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan during a signing ceremony in Yerevan on December 2, 2013. By Sargis Harutyunyan (RFE/RL) – The Armenian president may have gone “too far, too fast” in giving “blanket endorsement” to Russia in Syria, but he did not commit Armenia to any direct support for Moscow’s campaign in this Middle East country, says a Yerevan-based analyst, assessing Serzh Sargsyan’s latest talks with his Russia

Today, Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan presented a congratulatory address in honor of International Women’s Day. Dear women, On behalf of the Artsakh Republic authorities and myself personally I convey my sincere congratulations to you on the International Day of Women. March 8 is traditionally celebrated as the day of women’s rights protection. This day is another occasion for us to acknowledge and evaluate the work you carry out, express our profound gratitude, convey love,

Hon. Frank Pallone, Jr. February 26, 2016 Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Sumgait pogroms, one of the most horrific attacks against the Armenian people, committed at the hands of Azerbaijanis 28 years ago. On February 27, 1988, hundreds of Armenian civilians living in the city of Sumgait in Azerbaijan were indiscriminately killed, raped, maimed, and even burned alive for no reason other than their ethnicity. This senseless violence was instigated by hostile, anti

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) entered the following statement into the Congressional Record: “Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 28th anniversary of the pogrom against the Armenian residents of the town of Sumgait, Azerbaijan. On this day in 1988, and for three days following, Azerbaijani mobs assaulted and killed Armenians. When the violence finally subsided, hundreds of Armenian civilians had been brutally murdered and injured, women and young girls

(RFE/RL) – Armenia plans to abandon its “static defense” strategy and switch to a more active deterrence in its standoff with Azerbaijani troops in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone, an Armenian official said. Speaking at a seminar organized by the Organization for Security and Cooperation In Europe (OSCE) in Vienna on February 18, Armenian Deputy Defense Minister David Tonoian said that in order “to alleviate” the confrontation, Yerevan is “gradually” turning to the “deterr

(L-R): Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper, Jr. testifies as Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart looks on during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing about worldwide threats on February 9, 2016 in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) By Danielle Saroyan Armenian Agenda Associate Editor On February 9, U.S. Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper, Jr. said the Nagorno Karabakh conflict risks escalation in 2016. “Baku’s

Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs on February 13, 2016. By Danielle Saroyan Armenian Agenda Associate Editor On February 13, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian attended the Munich Security Conference where he met with Conference Chairman Wolfgang Ischinger, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, and Federal Government of Germany Special Representative for the OSCE Chairmanship Gernot Erler. Nalbandian applauded the Mun

On February 13, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland in Munich. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the high-level of bilateral relations, especially steps taken in recent years towards the consolidation of a friendly partnership between Armenia and the United States. Edward Nalbandian and Nuland exchanged views on ways to further develop cooperation in various fields. The Foreign Minister of Armenia and the US Assis

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  This week, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) submitted written testimony to the Helsinki Commission’s hearing entitled: “Update on the OSCE: Religious Freedom, Anti-Semitism, and Rule of Law,” citing Azerbaijan’s escalating and deadly cease-fire violations and urging additional action. “As the Commission is aware, the Assembly remains deeply concerned about the authoritarian regime in Azerbaijan, its jailing of journalists and abandonment of demo