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ANC Of Nevada Urges Governor To Retract Proclamation Of Azerbaijani

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  • ANC Of Nevada Urges Governor To Retract Proclamation Of Azerbaijani

    ANC OF NEVADA URGES GOVERNOR TO RETRACT PROCLAMATION OF AZERBAIJANI REMEMBRANCE DAY

    /PanARMENIAN.Net/
    21.05.2009 20:12 GMT+04:00

    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 Nagorno- Karabakh
    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.
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