ANCA testifies on Azerbaijan’s regional destabilizationJune 11, 2014 - 13:52 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), in testimony submitted this week for a Capitol Hill hearing of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, called the attention of U.S. legislators to "the truly alarming escalation of [Azerbaijan's] state-driven anti-Armenian incitements, intolerance, and acts of violence." ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian, in her testimony to the Commission, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, documented the manner in which "Baku's policies and practices violate international human rights principles, abrogate Azerbaijan’s own treaty obligations, destabilize the region, and create a dangerous environment conducive to the renewal of full-scale hostilities." The hearing, formally titled "The Security, Economic and Human Rights Dimensions of U.S.-Azerbaijan Relations," was called amid growing State Department and Congressional concern over Azerbaijan's increasingly destructive governance and regional destabilization. After reviewing five broad areas of Azerbaijan's anti-Armenian intolerance and violence, Nahapetian closed her testimony by stressing that, "As Americans, proud citizens of a nation founded by people who fled persecution and lit the flame of freedom that burns today in the hearts of the people in Nagorno Karabakh, we cannot continue to look away and ignore Azerbaijan’s destructive and hateful policies towards Armenians. Neither the U.S. government nor our OSCE partners should ever, in any way, acquiesce to Baku's anti-Armenian policies or increasingly violent efforts to subjugate the people and government of Karabakh to despotic foreign rule." The following witnesses are scheduled to testify in person: Tom Melia, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Department of State; Eric Rubin, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Department of State; Miriam Lanskoy, Director for Russia and Eurasia, National Endowment for Democracy, and; Brenda Shaffer, Visiting Researcher, Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies, Georgetown University. Shaffer is widely viewed as a reliable pro-Azerbaijan voice in Washington, an ardent advocate of the interests of energy firms operating in the Caspian region, and a strident critic of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now. Top stories The CSTO budget for the current year requires adjustments due to the refusal of Yerevan to pay their share of contributions. Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. Partner news | Exclusive access to all EURO 2024 games for Ucom subscribers This year once again Ucom stands as the primary partner of UEFA EURO 2024 in Armenia. Pashinyan congratulates Putin on Russia Day Nikol Pashinyan sent congratulatory messages to Vladimir Putin and Mikhail Mishustin on the occasion of Russia Day. Armenia, U.S. to upgrade Strategic Dialogue meeting to Strategic Partnership Commission The two governments have release a statement on the occasion of the U.S.-Armenia Strategic Dialogue Capstone meeting. idcoin: New tool in IDBank’s loyalty system IDBank has announced the launch of idcoin, a new tool in the customer loyalty system. |