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HAMPARIAN: MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRMEN FAIL TO CONDEMN ARTSAKH HELICOPTER DOWNING
11:36 13/11/2014 >> IN THE WORLD
In the aftermath of Wednesday's downing of an Artsakh Army helicopter
by Azerbaijani forces, the OSCE Minks Group Co-chairmen issued an
announcement expressing "serious concern" about the incident but,
once again, failing to condemn Azerbaijan for its aggression.
"The Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian
Federation, James Warlick of the United States, and Pierre Andrieu
of France) express our very serious concern about the downing of
a helicopter near the Line of Contact and the recent violence. We
regret the loss of life and express our condolences to the families,"
said the Minsk Group statement.
"The Co-Chairs are deeply worried by the events that prompted this
drastic incident, the first of its kind since the ceasefire agreement
was reached. We strongly appeal to the sides to avoid steps that would
escalate tension along the Line of Contact and Armenia-Azerbaijan
border. The region cannot afford another round of violence like we
witnessed this summer. Today's events remind us of the volatility of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the urgency to intensify efforts
to find a lasting settlement. We remain resolved to assist the sides
in any way possible," added the statement.
"We remind the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan of their
responsibilities to respect the ceasefire and honor the commitments
they made in Sochi, Newport, and Paris to find a peaceful resolution
to the conflict. We also encourage them to adopt confidence-building
measures now that would increase transparency along the Line of Contact
and the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, and reduce the likelihood of events
like today's incident," concluded the statement.
At around 1:45 p.m. local time, Azerbaijani forces shot an Mi-24
military helicopter belonging to the Artsakh Armed Forces, killing
three servicemen. The helicopter was on a training mission and
according to the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Ministry was
unarmed.
Baku claimed that the helicopter shot at Azerbaijani positions in
Aghdam on the border of Artsakh and Azerbaijan. The allegation was
dismissed by the Karabakh authorities, who added that after shooting
down the helicopter, the Azerbaijani forces continued the shelling
of Karabakh positions throughout the afternoon.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee
has condemned this latest attack by Azerbaijan and is urging the
international community to take appropriate measures to condemn
Azerbaijan and its continued military aggression.
"While the Minsk Group Co-Chairs appear to appreciate the gravity of
Azerbaijan's aggression - as reflected in their welcome expression
of 'serious concern' over Baku's fatal attack on this helicopter,
the OSCE's public response once again falls back into the deeply
flawed pattern of placing equal blame on both sides for hostility
that all the world knows is being directed by one man - Ilham Aliyev,
the President of Azerbaijan," said Armenian National Committee of
America Executive Director Aram Hamparian, according to Asbarez.
The ANCA also urged the White House to condemn the attack on the
unarmed helicopter.
"The Obama Administration must forcefully condemn Azerbaijan's downing
of an unarmed helicopter flying over Nagorno Karabakh, cut off all
military aid to Baku and scale back bilateral contacts until President
Aliyev ceases his aggression against Artsakh and Armenia. Our White
House needs to give up on the long-ago discredited idea that there
is some sort of parity between the parties. The facts are clear, and
should guide U.S. policy: Artsakh is a democracy offering its hand
in peace; Azerbaijan is a dictatorship escalating its anti-Armenian
aggression. America should stand on the side of peace and democracy,"
said Hamparian.
The ANCA has initiated a video call to action to secure additional
statements from Congress in this regard.
Congressional reaction to Wednesday's attack, which claimed the lives
of three Artsakh servicemen has begun to pour in.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said in a statement: "The apparent
shootdown of an unarmed helicopter over the territory of the NKR,
demonstrates Azerbaijan's callous disregard for human life and its
willingness to engage in provocative acts of violence to distract
from its domestic problems," said Rep. Adam Schiff. "This horrendous
conduct threatens to destabilize the entire region."
The European Union also weighed in on the attack, urging "restraint"
by the sides and failing to condemn Azerbaijan for its military
aggression.
"Following reports of a cease-fire breach on 12 November 2014 along
the Line of Contact, in which a military helicopter is reported to
have been shot down, it is essential that all sides show restraint
and avoid any actions or statements which could escalate the situation.
Furthermore, we call for an investigation into this incident," said
a statement by the EU.
"The European Union reiterates its full support to the efforts of the
OSCE Minsk Group and the three Co-Chairs. Both sides have to strictly
respect the ceasefire, to refrain from the use of force or any threat
thereof, and to resume efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," continued the EU statement.
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2014/11/13/hambaryan/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpCBjiViLzw&feature=youtu.be
11:36 13/11/2014 >> IN THE WORLD
In the aftermath of Wednesday's downing of an Artsakh Army helicopter
by Azerbaijani forces, the OSCE Minks Group Co-chairmen issued an
announcement expressing "serious concern" about the incident but,
once again, failing to condemn Azerbaijan for its aggression.
"The Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian
Federation, James Warlick of the United States, and Pierre Andrieu
of France) express our very serious concern about the downing of
a helicopter near the Line of Contact and the recent violence. We
regret the loss of life and express our condolences to the families,"
said the Minsk Group statement.
"The Co-Chairs are deeply worried by the events that prompted this
drastic incident, the first of its kind since the ceasefire agreement
was reached. We strongly appeal to the sides to avoid steps that would
escalate tension along the Line of Contact and Armenia-Azerbaijan
border. The region cannot afford another round of violence like we
witnessed this summer. Today's events remind us of the volatility of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the urgency to intensify efforts
to find a lasting settlement. We remain resolved to assist the sides
in any way possible," added the statement.
"We remind the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan of their
responsibilities to respect the ceasefire and honor the commitments
they made in Sochi, Newport, and Paris to find a peaceful resolution
to the conflict. We also encourage them to adopt confidence-building
measures now that would increase transparency along the Line of Contact
and the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, and reduce the likelihood of events
like today's incident," concluded the statement.
At around 1:45 p.m. local time, Azerbaijani forces shot an Mi-24
military helicopter belonging to the Artsakh Armed Forces, killing
three servicemen. The helicopter was on a training mission and
according to the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Ministry was
unarmed.
Baku claimed that the helicopter shot at Azerbaijani positions in
Aghdam on the border of Artsakh and Azerbaijan. The allegation was
dismissed by the Karabakh authorities, who added that after shooting
down the helicopter, the Azerbaijani forces continued the shelling
of Karabakh positions throughout the afternoon.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee
has condemned this latest attack by Azerbaijan and is urging the
international community to take appropriate measures to condemn
Azerbaijan and its continued military aggression.
"While the Minsk Group Co-Chairs appear to appreciate the gravity of
Azerbaijan's aggression - as reflected in their welcome expression
of 'serious concern' over Baku's fatal attack on this helicopter,
the OSCE's public response once again falls back into the deeply
flawed pattern of placing equal blame on both sides for hostility
that all the world knows is being directed by one man - Ilham Aliyev,
the President of Azerbaijan," said Armenian National Committee of
America Executive Director Aram Hamparian, according to Asbarez.
The ANCA also urged the White House to condemn the attack on the
unarmed helicopter.
"The Obama Administration must forcefully condemn Azerbaijan's downing
of an unarmed helicopter flying over Nagorno Karabakh, cut off all
military aid to Baku and scale back bilateral contacts until President
Aliyev ceases his aggression against Artsakh and Armenia. Our White
House needs to give up on the long-ago discredited idea that there
is some sort of parity between the parties. The facts are clear, and
should guide U.S. policy: Artsakh is a democracy offering its hand
in peace; Azerbaijan is a dictatorship escalating its anti-Armenian
aggression. America should stand on the side of peace and democracy,"
said Hamparian.
The ANCA has initiated a video call to action to secure additional
statements from Congress in this regard.
Congressional reaction to Wednesday's attack, which claimed the lives
of three Artsakh servicemen has begun to pour in.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said in a statement: "The apparent
shootdown of an unarmed helicopter over the territory of the NKR,
demonstrates Azerbaijan's callous disregard for human life and its
willingness to engage in provocative acts of violence to distract
from its domestic problems," said Rep. Adam Schiff. "This horrendous
conduct threatens to destabilize the entire region."
The European Union also weighed in on the attack, urging "restraint"
by the sides and failing to condemn Azerbaijan for its military
aggression.
"Following reports of a cease-fire breach on 12 November 2014 along
the Line of Contact, in which a military helicopter is reported to
have been shot down, it is essential that all sides show restraint
and avoid any actions or statements which could escalate the situation.
Furthermore, we call for an investigation into this incident," said
a statement by the EU.
"The European Union reiterates its full support to the efforts of the
OSCE Minsk Group and the three Co-Chairs. Both sides have to strictly
respect the ceasefire, to refrain from the use of force or any threat
thereof, and to resume efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," continued the EU statement.
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2014/11/13/hambaryan/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpCBjiViLzw&feature=youtu.be