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ANCA REFERS TO THE ARMENIAN SOLDIER'S MURDER BY AZERBAIJANI SNIPERS
20.Dec.2013 - 17:06
Members of Congress continue to express alarm at Azerbaijan's most
recent military attack across the Armenian border, which have made
Armenian soldier Hrant Poghosyan Azerbaijan's latest casualty,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The response, to date, from the Obama Administration and OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chairs, currently travelling in the Caucasus region, has been
delayed, muted and off-target, limited only to generic references to
border violence "undermining prospects for peace."
"Our Administration, which is represented as a Co-Chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group, should be clear in condemning the murder of Hrant
Poghosyan, breaking, as it must, from its pattern of pretend parity
in response to each and every new Azerbaijani attack," said Aram
Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "The OSCE Minsk Group's
artificial even-handedness is inexcusable, and only emboldens Baku,
which has made a cruel and dangerous habit of cross-border killings
during visits by international mediators."
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Central Valley Congressman Jim
Costa (D-CA) noted that he was "appalled to learn of yet another
murder of an Armenian soldier in an unprovoked attack by Azerbaijani
troops against Armenian forces. This tragic bloodshed follows the
Azerbaijani government's heroic treatment of Ramil Safarov - the
Azerbaijani military officer who savagely killed an Armenian solider.
Azerbaijan, its military, and the perpetrator of this heinous crime
must be held accountable for their actions and brought to justice."
Costa's comments follow statements issued earlier this week by the
Congressmen Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Brad Sherman (D-CA) condemning
the attack.
"Azerbaijan has yet again shown that it is not serious about
establishing peaceful relations with Armenia and Artsakh. Despite
the request for a ceasefire during the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group negotiations between
Armenia and Azerbaijan, Azeri forces have killed an Armenian solider,
Hrant Poghosyan. The shooting was unprovoked and Armenian forces have
respected the request for a ceasefire," explained Rep. Brad Sherman
(D-CA)
Rep. Schiff echoed those concerns and called attention to Azerbaijan's
ongoing use of violence to resolve the Karbakah conflict. "One need
only look at the sick display of adulation that greeted Ramil Safarov
-- the Azerbaijani military officer who beheaded an Armenian colleague
during a NATO Partnership for Peace exercise -- to see how the Azeri
government has glorified this violence. Rather than prison, Safarov
was paraded through the streets and given a new house and a promotion.
Baku's newest murderer will not be brought to justice until the
international community insists on an end to these atrocities."
On December 19th, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs issued a press
release referencing, in general terms, the border violence that led
to Poghosyan's murder. According to the release, "the Co-Chairs noted
that recent violence on the border undermines prospects for peace.
They encouraged the sides to refrain from further actions that could
increase tensions, and to work to maintain an atmosphere conducive
to progress at the negotiating table."
http://times.am/?p=36585&l=en
20.Dec.2013 - 17:06
Members of Congress continue to express alarm at Azerbaijan's most
recent military attack across the Armenian border, which have made
Armenian soldier Hrant Poghosyan Azerbaijan's latest casualty,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The response, to date, from the Obama Administration and OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chairs, currently travelling in the Caucasus region, has been
delayed, muted and off-target, limited only to generic references to
border violence "undermining prospects for peace."
"Our Administration, which is represented as a Co-Chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group, should be clear in condemning the murder of Hrant
Poghosyan, breaking, as it must, from its pattern of pretend parity
in response to each and every new Azerbaijani attack," said Aram
Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "The OSCE Minsk Group's
artificial even-handedness is inexcusable, and only emboldens Baku,
which has made a cruel and dangerous habit of cross-border killings
during visits by international mediators."
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Central Valley Congressman Jim
Costa (D-CA) noted that he was "appalled to learn of yet another
murder of an Armenian soldier in an unprovoked attack by Azerbaijani
troops against Armenian forces. This tragic bloodshed follows the
Azerbaijani government's heroic treatment of Ramil Safarov - the
Azerbaijani military officer who savagely killed an Armenian solider.
Azerbaijan, its military, and the perpetrator of this heinous crime
must be held accountable for their actions and brought to justice."
Costa's comments follow statements issued earlier this week by the
Congressmen Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Brad Sherman (D-CA) condemning
the attack.
"Azerbaijan has yet again shown that it is not serious about
establishing peaceful relations with Armenia and Artsakh. Despite
the request for a ceasefire during the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group negotiations between
Armenia and Azerbaijan, Azeri forces have killed an Armenian solider,
Hrant Poghosyan. The shooting was unprovoked and Armenian forces have
respected the request for a ceasefire," explained Rep. Brad Sherman
(D-CA)
Rep. Schiff echoed those concerns and called attention to Azerbaijan's
ongoing use of violence to resolve the Karbakah conflict. "One need
only look at the sick display of adulation that greeted Ramil Safarov
-- the Azerbaijani military officer who beheaded an Armenian colleague
during a NATO Partnership for Peace exercise -- to see how the Azeri
government has glorified this violence. Rather than prison, Safarov
was paraded through the streets and given a new house and a promotion.
Baku's newest murderer will not be brought to justice until the
international community insists on an end to these atrocities."
On December 19th, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs issued a press
release referencing, in general terms, the border violence that led
to Poghosyan's murder. According to the release, "the Co-Chairs noted
that recent violence on the border undermines prospects for peace.
They encouraged the sides to refrain from further actions that could
increase tensions, and to work to maintain an atmosphere conducive
to progress at the negotiating table."
http://times.am/?p=36585&l=en