ANCA calls on Gabbard to probe U.S. role in Artsakh crisis

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has congratulated former U.S. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard on her confirmation as Director of National Intelligence and called for a comprehensive investigation into U.S. intelligence, policy, and foreign aid failures that contributed to Azerbaijan’s genocidal ethnic cleansing of Artsakh’s indigenous Armenian population.

"The Armenian National Committee of America welcomes Gabbard’s confirmation today and urges a full assessment of the United States' role in Azerbaijan’s genocidal campaign against Artsakh’s Armenian population—whether through oversights or directives that aided, encouraged, or emboldened Azerbaijan," stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

In its congratulatory letter to Gabbard, ANCA also emphasized the importance of officially reassessing intelligence policies to understand how U.S. actions—such as military aid to Azerbaijan—have facilitated its war crimes.

"As you know, Armenian Americans in Hawaii and across the United States have long supported your efforts to prevent atrocities and advocate for human rights, particularly in issues of deep concern to our community and coalition partners. We are profoundly grateful for your recognition of the Armenian Genocide and, of course, your support for the democratic aspirations of Artsakh’s indigenous Armenian Christian population.

We stand ready to support an investigation into U.S. failures and commission shortcomings that aided, assisted, or encouraged Azerbaijan in its genocidal campaign against Artsakh’s peaceful Armenian population," ANCA’s letter stated.

ANCA continues to call on the Trump administration to enforce Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, which prohibits U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan, and to impose Magnitsky sanctions on Azerbaijani officials responsible for war crimes. Additionally, the organization urges the U.S. government to pressure Azerbaijan to release Armenian prisoners of war and to make exceptions in foreign aid restrictions so that Artsakh genocide survivors can receive necessary assistance.

As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Gabbard co-sponsored the Armenian Genocide recognition resolution and visited Artsakh in 2017, witnessing firsthand the resilience of its people against Azerbaijani aggression. In 2020, she condemned Turkey’s role in fueling the war against Artsakh, stating, "Turkey is sending Al-Qaeda-linked militants to exterminate the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh."