ANCA: OSCE MUST CHALLENGE AZERBAIJANI AGGRESSION

ANCA: OSCE MUST CHALLENGE AZERBAIJANI AGGRESSION –

WASHINGTON, DC — Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian issued the following statement regarding Azerbaijan’s most recent attacks against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

“The Azerbaijani government’s July 31st and August 1st cross-border attacks against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh are the latest examples of its reckless military aggression in the face of international efforts to stabilize the region and set the groundwork for a fair and enduring peace.”

“The OSCE Minsk Group’s unwillingness to clearly condemn Azerbaijani military strikes has fostered a dangerous atmosphere of impunity that has clearly contributed to this recent escalation of violence. It is time for peace negotiators to break their bad habit of answering Aliyev’s every assault with artificial even-handedness and diplomatic double-talk. Only by unequivocally denouncing Azerbaijan’s attacks can they hope to constrain Aliyev’s march toward a renewed Caucasus war. An important first step would be an OSCE-lead international campaign demanding that Baku lift its opposition to the withdrawal of all snipers, a life-saving proposal that Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh have supported for over 3 years.”

On July 31st and August 1st, Azerbaijani attacks on the lines of contact with Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh have resulted in over 10 deaths. U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf issued a statement on August 1st expressing United States “concern about the escalation of violence,” but stopped short of clearly condemning Azerbaijani aggression. The statement went on to call “the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to meet at the earliest opportunity to resume dialogue on key issues.”

Ms. Harf’s complete statement is available at:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2014/230150.htm

Earlier in the day, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group CoChair, Ambassador James Warlick tweeted “We are seriously concerned about the recent upsurge in violence along the Line Of Contact. The ceasefire needs to be respected. #NKpeace”