AZERBAIJANI AMBASSADOR DISPUTES ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA'S RIGHTS TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY TO CONGRESS
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/09/27/azerbaijani-ambassador-disputes-armenian-assembly-of-americas-rights-to-submit-testimony-to-congress/
13:09 27.09.2013
For the second time this year, the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly) was invited to submit testimony to Congress on issues of
concern to the Armenian-American community. This move drew the ire
of Azerbaijan's Ambassador to the United States Elin Suleymanov,
who expressed his "surprise" at the Armenian Assembly testimony and
attempted to dispute Armenian-Americans' right to set the record
straight on Azerbaijan's aggressive posture toward Armenians at a
Congressional briefing held earlier this year entitled "Troubled
Partner: Growing Authoritarianism in Azerbaijan."
A new video released by the Assembly today showcases Ambassador
Suleymanov's reaction and highlights segments of the Assembly's
testimony, specifically Azerbaijan's state-sponsored policy of
cultural genocide as seen in the destruction of an ancient Armenian
cemetery in Julfa, Nakhichevan; Azerbaijan's plummeting human rights
record and deteriorating press freedoms; and the repatriation, pardon
and glorification of Azerbaijan soldier Ramil Safarov who brutally
murdered Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan with an axe while the
latter was sleeping at a NATO Partnership for Peace training course
in Hungary in 2004.
"The government of Azerbaijan can shower American officials with
lavish junkets to their country and launch fancy public relations
gimmicks to try to turn American attention away from their petro-fueled
authoritarian oligarchy," stated Assembly Communications Director
Taniel Koushakjian. "Fortunately, Americans, especially our elected
officials in Congress, are much better informed," he said.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/09/27/azerbaijani-ambassador-disputes-armenian-assembly-of-americas-rights-to-submit-testimony-to-congress/
13:09 27.09.2013
For the second time this year, the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly) was invited to submit testimony to Congress on issues of
concern to the Armenian-American community. This move drew the ire
of Azerbaijan's Ambassador to the United States Elin Suleymanov,
who expressed his "surprise" at the Armenian Assembly testimony and
attempted to dispute Armenian-Americans' right to set the record
straight on Azerbaijan's aggressive posture toward Armenians at a
Congressional briefing held earlier this year entitled "Troubled
Partner: Growing Authoritarianism in Azerbaijan."
A new video released by the Assembly today showcases Ambassador
Suleymanov's reaction and highlights segments of the Assembly's
testimony, specifically Azerbaijan's state-sponsored policy of
cultural genocide as seen in the destruction of an ancient Armenian
cemetery in Julfa, Nakhichevan; Azerbaijan's plummeting human rights
record and deteriorating press freedoms; and the repatriation, pardon
and glorification of Azerbaijan soldier Ramil Safarov who brutally
murdered Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan with an axe while the
latter was sleeping at a NATO Partnership for Peace training course
in Hungary in 2004.
"The government of Azerbaijan can shower American officials with
lavish junkets to their country and launch fancy public relations
gimmicks to try to turn American attention away from their petro-fueled
authoritarian oligarchy," stated Assembly Communications Director
Taniel Koushakjian. "Fortunately, Americans, especially our elected
officials in Congress, are much better informed," he said.