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SHERMAN CONDEMNS SOLDIER'S DEATH
http://asbarez.com/118808/sherman-condemns-soldier%E2%80%99s-death/
Friday, January 24th, 2014
U.S. Representative Brad Sherman
WASHINGTON-Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA) released the following
statement on Friday regarding the unprovoked killing of an Armenian
soldier, Armen Hovannisyan, by Azeri forces along the border of
Nagorno-Karabakh.
"Just four days before a meeting scheduled between Azerbaijan's and
Armenia's Foreign Ministers to discuss a peaceful resolution to the
conflict between Azerbaijan and the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh,
Azeri forces have tragically killed yet another Armenian soldier in an
unprovoked attack on the Artsakh and Azerbaijan border. As I stated
last December when an Armenian soldier was killed, Azerbaijan
continues to show that it is not serious about establishing peaceful
relations with Artsakh and repeatedly creates obstacles to the peace
process.
"Azerbaijan and its forces must be held accountable for these ruthless
displays of violence. I have been a longtime advocate for a peaceful
resolution of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Karabakh and the
recognition of the independent Republic of Karabakh."
On Wednesday, during an interview with Asbarez Editor Ara
Khachatourian for Horizon Television, Rep. Adam Schiff condemned
Hovhannisyan's death and said that this latest Azeri attack is
"unfortunately one in a series of provocative and murderous acts along
the line of control, which if not explicitly sanctioned by Aliyev's
administration, certainly is supported implicitly, and this is the
real problem."
"There was recently a meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia and
Azerbaijan to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh. The Azeri Foreign Minister
expressed support for a peaceful, negotiated resolution. But you can't
say that if you are condoning and permitting the kind of murder and
violence along the line of control that they are. When you make a hero
out of an ax-murderer like [Ramil] Safarov you are sending a message
to your troops that the murder of Armenians, the murder of citizens of
Karabakh, is not only acceptable but laudable," added Schiff.
"If they are serious about a peaceful resolution, they have to prepare
their people for peace, and they're not doing it at all. And if they
are going to be this malevolent an actor, the international community
really has to speak out strongly. I think we have to stop supporting
them and drive home the message that this kind of dangerous,
provocative, and fatal conduct is just not going to persist," said
Schiff.
The Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) Aram Hamparian commented saying, "On behalf of Armenians from
California and across the country, we would like to express our
gratitude to Congressmen Sherman and Schiff."
"The State Department's policy of "pretend parity" represents, in
actuality, a pronounced pro-Baku bias. The failure of the U.S. or the
OSCE to meaningfully confront or materially constrain Azerbaijan's
aggression risks allowing President Ilham Aliyev to redefine his
escalating pattern of constant, frequently fatal, cross-border attacks
as the "new normal. The American answer - and the international
response - must be as clear as it is decisive in standing up to Baku's
belligerence. Our Congress can start by zeroing out US military aid to
Azerbaijan," concluded Hamparian
http://asbarez.com/118808/sherman-condemns-soldier%E2%80%99s-death/
Friday, January 24th, 2014
U.S. Representative Brad Sherman
WASHINGTON-Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA) released the following
statement on Friday regarding the unprovoked killing of an Armenian
soldier, Armen Hovannisyan, by Azeri forces along the border of
Nagorno-Karabakh.
"Just four days before a meeting scheduled between Azerbaijan's and
Armenia's Foreign Ministers to discuss a peaceful resolution to the
conflict between Azerbaijan and the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh,
Azeri forces have tragically killed yet another Armenian soldier in an
unprovoked attack on the Artsakh and Azerbaijan border. As I stated
last December when an Armenian soldier was killed, Azerbaijan
continues to show that it is not serious about establishing peaceful
relations with Artsakh and repeatedly creates obstacles to the peace
process.
"Azerbaijan and its forces must be held accountable for these ruthless
displays of violence. I have been a longtime advocate for a peaceful
resolution of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Karabakh and the
recognition of the independent Republic of Karabakh."
On Wednesday, during an interview with Asbarez Editor Ara
Khachatourian for Horizon Television, Rep. Adam Schiff condemned
Hovhannisyan's death and said that this latest Azeri attack is
"unfortunately one in a series of provocative and murderous acts along
the line of control, which if not explicitly sanctioned by Aliyev's
administration, certainly is supported implicitly, and this is the
real problem."
"There was recently a meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia and
Azerbaijan to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh. The Azeri Foreign Minister
expressed support for a peaceful, negotiated resolution. But you can't
say that if you are condoning and permitting the kind of murder and
violence along the line of control that they are. When you make a hero
out of an ax-murderer like [Ramil] Safarov you are sending a message
to your troops that the murder of Armenians, the murder of citizens of
Karabakh, is not only acceptable but laudable," added Schiff.
"If they are serious about a peaceful resolution, they have to prepare
their people for peace, and they're not doing it at all. And if they
are going to be this malevolent an actor, the international community
really has to speak out strongly. I think we have to stop supporting
them and drive home the message that this kind of dangerous,
provocative, and fatal conduct is just not going to persist," said
Schiff.
The Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) Aram Hamparian commented saying, "On behalf of Armenians from
California and across the country, we would like to express our
gratitude to Congressmen Sherman and Schiff."
"The State Department's policy of "pretend parity" represents, in
actuality, a pronounced pro-Baku bias. The failure of the U.S. or the
OSCE to meaningfully confront or materially constrain Azerbaijan's
aggression risks allowing President Ilham Aliyev to redefine his
escalating pattern of constant, frequently fatal, cross-border attacks
as the "new normal. The American answer - and the international
response - must be as clear as it is decisive in standing up to Baku's
belligerence. Our Congress can start by zeroing out US military aid to
Azerbaijan," concluded Hamparian