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U.S. Representatives Royce, Sherman, Cardenas, Eshoo, Clark
commemorate Sumgait and Baku massacres
http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/03/01/u-s-representatives-royce-sherman-cardenas-eshoo-clark-commemorate-sumgait-and-baku-massacres/
12:46 01.03.2014
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) was joined by
fellow Committee colleague Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Representatives
Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Katherine Clark (D-MA) in
commemorating the 26th anniversary of the Azerbaijani pogroms against
the Armenian population of the Azerbaijani city of Sumgait, and
condemning the ongoing violence and intimidation fostered by the
government of President Ilham Aliyev, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
"Twenty-six years ago, violent mobs surrounded the sea-side village in
Sumgait, Soviet Azerbaijan and terrorized its inhabitants through a
violent and brutal pogrom. In the following days, these roving bands
systematically targeted ethnic Armenians on the streets and in their
homes, viciously attacking and killing hundreds," stated Chairman
Royce. "On this tragic anniversary, when we mourn the loss of those
innocent lives, we are mindful of the ongoing conflict in
Nagorno-Karabakh and recurrent incidents of inciting rhetoric by Azeri
political leaders and continued military clashes along the border. It
is critical that Azerbaijan's leaders refrain from provocative
statements and commit to fruitful negotiations for a lasting peace in
Nagorno-Karabakh."
Rep. Sherman explained the imperative of commemorating the pogroms in
Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku, stating, "If we hope to stop future
massacres, we must acknowledge these horrific events and ensure they
do not happen again." Rep. Sherman went on to note, that "Recognizing
the ethnic-cleansing of the Armenians from Azerbaijan is an important
step. However, we need to do more-we need to demonstrate to Azerbaijan
that the United States is committed to peace and to the protection of
Artsakh from coercion."
Rep. Cardenas noted that "the failure to act by the Azerbaijani
authorities and our failure to compel action has resulted in a tidal
wave of animosity towards the Armenians, which manifests itself in
several ways. Azerbaijani forces east of Karabagh continue to
disregard the ceasefire established after the Karabagh war in 1994.
Ramil Safarov, who decapitated an Armenian Lieutenant while he slept
during a NATO-sponsored training program in 2004, returned home as a
hero and was held up as 'an example of patriotism for the Azerbaijani
youth' by the Commissioner for Human Rights of Azerbaijan, Elmira
Suleymanova. All the while, Ilham Aliyev continues his brazen
rhetoric; consistently declaring Armenians as the national enemy in an
effort to unite the Azeri public."
Rep. Eshoo explained that "without our recognition and our forceful
condemnation, the cycle of violence will continue. Even today,
Christians and other minority groups are being driven from Syria by
extremists, and the once large and diverse ethnic mosaic there is all
but eradicated. Without our attention and action by the world
community, there will be no end in sight."
Rep. Clark noted that "like the persecution of too many peoples before
it, the lessons of Sumgait must not be forgotten. As diverse families
of the Commonwealth, and as Americans, we have a moral obligation to
promote tolerance and justice, and we have a duty to recognize the
atrocities that have kept us from our common goal."
commemorate Sumgait and Baku massacres
http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/03/01/u-s-representatives-royce-sherman-cardenas-eshoo-clark-commemorate-sumgait-and-baku-massacres/
12:46 01.03.2014
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) was joined by
fellow Committee colleague Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Representatives
Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Katherine Clark (D-MA) in
commemorating the 26th anniversary of the Azerbaijani pogroms against
the Armenian population of the Azerbaijani city of Sumgait, and
condemning the ongoing violence and intimidation fostered by the
government of President Ilham Aliyev, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
"Twenty-six years ago, violent mobs surrounded the sea-side village in
Sumgait, Soviet Azerbaijan and terrorized its inhabitants through a
violent and brutal pogrom. In the following days, these roving bands
systematically targeted ethnic Armenians on the streets and in their
homes, viciously attacking and killing hundreds," stated Chairman
Royce. "On this tragic anniversary, when we mourn the loss of those
innocent lives, we are mindful of the ongoing conflict in
Nagorno-Karabakh and recurrent incidents of inciting rhetoric by Azeri
political leaders and continued military clashes along the border. It
is critical that Azerbaijan's leaders refrain from provocative
statements and commit to fruitful negotiations for a lasting peace in
Nagorno-Karabakh."
Rep. Sherman explained the imperative of commemorating the pogroms in
Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku, stating, "If we hope to stop future
massacres, we must acknowledge these horrific events and ensure they
do not happen again." Rep. Sherman went on to note, that "Recognizing
the ethnic-cleansing of the Armenians from Azerbaijan is an important
step. However, we need to do more-we need to demonstrate to Azerbaijan
that the United States is committed to peace and to the protection of
Artsakh from coercion."
Rep. Cardenas noted that "the failure to act by the Azerbaijani
authorities and our failure to compel action has resulted in a tidal
wave of animosity towards the Armenians, which manifests itself in
several ways. Azerbaijani forces east of Karabagh continue to
disregard the ceasefire established after the Karabagh war in 1994.
Ramil Safarov, who decapitated an Armenian Lieutenant while he slept
during a NATO-sponsored training program in 2004, returned home as a
hero and was held up as 'an example of patriotism for the Azerbaijani
youth' by the Commissioner for Human Rights of Azerbaijan, Elmira
Suleymanova. All the while, Ilham Aliyev continues his brazen
rhetoric; consistently declaring Armenians as the national enemy in an
effort to unite the Azeri public."
Rep. Eshoo explained that "without our recognition and our forceful
condemnation, the cycle of violence will continue. Even today,
Christians and other minority groups are being driven from Syria by
extremists, and the once large and diverse ethnic mosaic there is all
but eradicated. Without our attention and action by the world
community, there will be no end in sight."
Rep. Clark noted that "like the persecution of too many peoples before
it, the lessons of Sumgait must not be forgotten. As diverse families
of the Commonwealth, and as Americans, we have a moral obligation to
promote tolerance and justice, and we have a duty to recognize the
atrocities that have kept us from our common goal."