Tweet
Armenian National Committee - Nevada
Las Vegas, NV 89135
PRESS RELEASE
April 3, 2009
Contact: Ara Shirinian
Email: [email protected]
Nevada Armenians Express Outrage in Light of Governor's Proclamation
of Azerbaijani Remembrance Day
- ANC of Nevada Urges Governor Gibbons to Retract Proclamation
Las Vegas, Nevada - The ANC of Nevada has responded to a proclamation
issued by Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons which proclaimed March 31 as
Azerbaijani Remembrance Day. The proclamation commemorates the deaths
of tens of thousands of Azerbaijani civilians due to the
Armenian-Azeri conflict and the so called `March Massacres' of 1918 in
Baku, Azerbaijan.
The proclamation, the timing of which is highly questionable, has
caused great consternation and substantial outrage in the Armenian
American community in Nevada and throughout the country. Based on
manipulative news coverage in the Azerbaijani and international press,
it appears this proclamation has been promoted by interests wishing to
oppose the self-determination of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR)
and further to distract attention from efforts to recognize the
Armenian Genocide.
"The Armenian-American community throughout the state of Nevada is
shocked that Governor Gibbons was so easily misled and manipulated by
foreign interest groups representing the governments of Azerbaijan and
Turkey and their high priced lobbyists. We expect our Silver State
public officials to do their homework and represent the interests of
their constituents here in Nevada," stated ANC Nevada spokesperson
Razmik Ablo.
In a letter to the Governor, the ANC of Nevada expressed the
community's outrage and disappointment over
the proclamation's wording which refers to NKR as a part of
Azerbaijan's `territorial integrity' when the US State Department and
OSCE Minsk Group have made clear that the right of self-determination
for the people of NKR is an equal priority. The letter also states
that `this proclamation is currently being offered as human rights
activists around the world prepare for the observation of the
international day of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide on April
24. As you are also aware, the Turkish government and its foreign
agents deny the historical reality of this crime. Unfortunately,
scores of news stories emanating from the Azerbaijani press are
utilizing your proclamation as a subterfuge for genocide denial by
stating that this proclamation supports the idea that Armenians
committed genocide against Azerbaijanis at the time.'
The historical record regarding the period in question makes it clear
that civil war raged in the area. According to documents in the
United States Library of Congress and publications of that era such as
the New York Times, pro-Russian communist forces engaged in isolated
acts of violence. These acts were not systematic and widespread, such
as tactics implemented in the Armenian Genocide, Holocaust and Darfur.
`As committed human rights advocates, we do not minimize the suffering
of any people at any time - but instead call attention to the
politically motivated nature of the proclamation... ...we feel it is
necessary to raise awareness of the true intentions of those
interested in securing such proclamations from the governor of our
state.'
ANC of Nevada advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and
political rights of the area's Armenian American community and
promotes increased Armenian American civic participation at the
grassroots and public policy levels.
###
The full text of the proclamation is below:
STATE OF NEVADA
[The Great Seal of the State of Nevada]
A PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR
WHEREAS, the Republic of Azerbaijan has an area of 33,440 square
miles, including the Karabakh region, situated in the South Caucasus
region, southeastern Europe; and
WHEREAS, the territorial integrity, state sovereignty and independence
of the Republic of Azerbaijan is supported by the United States and
its citizens; and
WHEREAS, in March 1918, ethnic and religious tensions grew and the
Armenian-Azeri conflict in Baku began; and
WHEREAS, as a result of the conflict, the region suffered thousands of
casualties in Baku, Shemakha, Guba, Shusha, including the deaths of
tens of thousands of Azerbaijani civilians; and
WHEREAS, every year since 1918, Azerbaijanis and many people around
the globe, observe March 31 as a Day of Remembrance, to honor the
victims resulting from the fighting that began in March 1918; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIM GIBBONS, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, do
hereby proclaim March 31, 2009 as
AZERBAIJANI REMEMBRANCE DAY
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great
Seal of the State of Nevada to be affixed at the State Capitol in
Carson City, this 31st day of March, 2009.
Las Vegas, NV 89135
PRESS RELEASE
April 3, 2009
Contact: Ara Shirinian
Email: [email protected]
Nevada Armenians Express Outrage in Light of Governor's Proclamation
of Azerbaijani Remembrance Day
- ANC of Nevada Urges Governor Gibbons to Retract Proclamation
Las Vegas, Nevada - The ANC of Nevada has responded to a proclamation
issued by Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons which proclaimed March 31 as
Azerbaijani Remembrance Day. The proclamation commemorates the deaths
of tens of thousands of Azerbaijani civilians due to the
Armenian-Azeri conflict and the so called `March Massacres' of 1918 in
Baku, Azerbaijan.
The proclamation, the timing of which is highly questionable, has
caused great consternation and substantial outrage in the Armenian
American community in Nevada and throughout the country. Based on
manipulative news coverage in the Azerbaijani and international press,
it appears this proclamation has been promoted by interests wishing to
oppose the self-determination of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR)
and further to distract attention from efforts to recognize the
Armenian Genocide.
"The Armenian-American community throughout the state of Nevada is
shocked that Governor Gibbons was so easily misled and manipulated by
foreign interest groups representing the governments of Azerbaijan and
Turkey and their high priced lobbyists. We expect our Silver State
public officials to do their homework and represent the interests of
their constituents here in Nevada," stated ANC Nevada spokesperson
Razmik Ablo.
In a letter to the Governor, the ANC of Nevada expressed the
community's outrage and disappointment over
the proclamation's wording which refers to NKR as a part of
Azerbaijan's `territorial integrity' when the US State Department and
OSCE Minsk Group have made clear that the right of self-determination
for the people of NKR is an equal priority. The letter also states
that `this proclamation is currently being offered as human rights
activists around the world prepare for the observation of the
international day of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide on April
24. As you are also aware, the Turkish government and its foreign
agents deny the historical reality of this crime. Unfortunately,
scores of news stories emanating from the Azerbaijani press are
utilizing your proclamation as a subterfuge for genocide denial by
stating that this proclamation supports the idea that Armenians
committed genocide against Azerbaijanis at the time.'
The historical record regarding the period in question makes it clear
that civil war raged in the area. According to documents in the
United States Library of Congress and publications of that era such as
the New York Times, pro-Russian communist forces engaged in isolated
acts of violence. These acts were not systematic and widespread, such
as tactics implemented in the Armenian Genocide, Holocaust and Darfur.
`As committed human rights advocates, we do not minimize the suffering
of any people at any time - but instead call attention to the
politically motivated nature of the proclamation... ...we feel it is
necessary to raise awareness of the true intentions of those
interested in securing such proclamations from the governor of our
state.'
ANC of Nevada advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and
political rights of the area's Armenian American community and
promotes increased Armenian American civic participation at the
grassroots and public policy levels.
###
The full text of the proclamation is below:
STATE OF NEVADA
[The Great Seal of the State of Nevada]
A PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR
WHEREAS, the Republic of Azerbaijan has an area of 33,440 square
miles, including the Karabakh region, situated in the South Caucasus
region, southeastern Europe; and
WHEREAS, the territorial integrity, state sovereignty and independence
of the Republic of Azerbaijan is supported by the United States and
its citizens; and
WHEREAS, in March 1918, ethnic and religious tensions grew and the
Armenian-Azeri conflict in Baku began; and
WHEREAS, as a result of the conflict, the region suffered thousands of
casualties in Baku, Shemakha, Guba, Shusha, including the deaths of
tens of thousands of Azerbaijani civilians; and
WHEREAS, every year since 1918, Azerbaijanis and many people around
the globe, observe March 31 as a Day of Remembrance, to honor the
victims resulting from the fighting that began in March 1918; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIM GIBBONS, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, do
hereby proclaim March 31, 2009 as
AZERBAIJANI REMEMBRANCE DAY
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great
Seal of the State of Nevada to be affixed at the State Capitol in
Carson City, this 31st day of March, 2009.