Day: June 28, 2024

U.S. Reps. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) have introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning Azerbaijan for perpetrating ethnic cleansing against the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh).

“The Azerbaijani assault on Nagorno-Karabakh last year brought about the destruction of the Armenian community that has called the region home for centuries. Azerbaijan’s actions meet every definition of ethnic cleansing and must be condemned as such,” said Rep. Eshoo. “Our resolution establishes a clear record of the atrocities perpetrated against the Armenian people and outlines critical steps that the U.S. must take to pursue justice and accountability for these crimes.”

“The horrific atrocities and ethnic cleansing perpetrated by Azerbaijan against the Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh does not erase the Armenians’ right to live in their ancient homeland in peace and freedom and to practice their own faith, follow their own customs and speak their own language,” said Rep. Smith, who chaired two congressional hearings last year on the plight of the Armenians. “Our bipartisan legislation urges the Biden administration to vigorously support the Armenians’ rights against the ongoing crimes of the Azerbaijani government under its ruthless dictator Ilham Aliyev.”

“Having faced no material consequences for its ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, Azerbaijan continues to threaten renewed violence to secure yet more unilateral concessions from Armenia,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “A just and durable peace must start with accountability. We commend Representatives Eshoo and Smith for their bold leadership in condemning Azerbaijan’s genocidal aggression, urging the Biden Administration to take immediate action to ensure the release of Armenian prisoners and hostages, and pressing for the right of Artsakh’s Armenians to safely return to their homes under international protection.”

“Azerbaijan’s genocidal campaign against the Armenian people continues with the ongoing destruction of religious, historical, and cultural sites, as well documented by the Caucasus Heritage Watch,” said Armenian Assembly of America Congressional Relations Director, Mariam Khaloyan. “We look forward to working with Reps. Eshoo and Smith to expose Azerbaijan’s human rights violations and hold the perpetrators accountable.”

On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched an unprovoked military assault on Nagorno-Karabakh. The attack followed a cruel blockade that deprived the region’s population of food, medicine and other necessities for ten months. Within 24 hours, the Azerbaijani military forced the surrender of local Armenian authorities, ending their three decades of self-rule and triggering the displacement of 120,000 civilians from their homeland.

The resolution condemns the atrocities committed by Azerbaijan and recognizes them as ethnic cleansing. It also urges the Biden Administration to impose sanctions on Azerbaijani officials; suspend U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan; provide increased humanitarian aid to alleviate the refugee crisis in Armenia; and press Azerbaijan to release prisoners of war, provide a right of return for Armenian refugees, and preserve the Armenian cultural heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh.

EU leaders have nominated current European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen for a second five-year term in the bloc’s top job at a summit in Brussels, the BBC reports.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas was picked as the EU’s next foreign affairs chief and former Portuguese prime minister António Costa was chosen as the next chairman of EU summits.

All three candidates are from centrist, pro-EU factions.

The European Parliament is due to vote on the nominations next month.

Ursula von der Leyen is from Germany’s centre-right, António Costa is a socialist and Kaja Kallas a liberal.

There had been resistance from Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.

Before the summit she said the plans ignored the successes of hard-right parties like her own in the recent elections for the European Parliament.

Ms Meloni abstained from the vote for Ms von der Leyen and voted against Mr Costa and Ms Kallas.