Head of the Azerbaijani Community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan Tural Ganjaliyev has sent a protest letter to US Representatives from the Congressional Armenian Caucus - Frank Pallone, Jr., Jackie Speier, Gus M. Bilirakis, and Adam B. Schiff for their “congratulatory” letter to the illegal entity established by Armenia in Azerbaijan’s occupied territories.

The protest letter notes that the Azerbaijani community has been forcibly displaced through ethnically cleansing from their homes and denied their basic human rights in the last 28 years while Armenia continues to illegally occupy Azerbaijan’s Nagorno Karabakh region and seven adjacent territories in violation of the basic principles of the international law and relevant resolutions of the UNSCRs and decisions of other international organizations: 

In this context, it is indeed very irresponsible to try to legitimize the “election show” in Azerbaijan’s occupied territories that took place on March 31 and April 14 as the international community, including the United States, unanimously took the side of law and justice by strongly rejecting the “election show” and standing in solidarity with Azerbaijan. This sends a very powerful message that the international community will not accept the results of ethnic cleansing and illegal occupation of Azerbaijan’s territories. In this context, it is indeed very irresponsible to try to legitimize the “election show” in Azerbaijan’s occupied territories that took place on March 31 and April 14 as the international community, including the United States, unanimously took the side of law and justice by strongly rejecting the “election show” and standing in solidarity with Azerbaijan. This sends a very powerful message that the international community will not accept the results of ethnic cleansing and illegal occupation of Azerbaijan’s territories. 

To prove their adherence to human rights, universal values and the rule of law those Representatives could have used it as an opportunity to call on Armenia to refrain from illegal actions that further aggravate the situation, to withdraw from the occupied territories and to constructively engage in the peaceful resolution of the conflict. 

Instead, they chose to commit themselves to actions that not only contradict to the basic human rights and universal values that the US espouses, but also encourages discrimination against the civilian population ethnically cleansed by Armenia. This is a wrong message and emboldens those in the Armenian society who are promoting discriminatory policies and historically notorious narratives about superiority of one and inferiority of other ethnic groups that blatantly violate every humanitarian and human rights laws and principles. This is nowhere for the future of people of Armenia and the wider region.

Even those Representatives don’t seem to be bothered by the fact that the “election show” exposed current residents in the Nagorno Karabakh region of Azerbaijan to the grave risk of

COVID-19 that accelerated the infection rate. It only shows that those Representatives do not really care about the residents in the occupied territories but serve a narrow political agenda. Unfortunately, convincing arguments suggest the real motivation in sending such a letter is to personally gain by pleasing some members of the Armenian community residing in the US at the expense of moral principles and political dignity.

In conclusion, the irresponsible letter that neglects Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and encourages discriminatory approach to the Azerbaijani community is wrong morally, legally and politically. The best thing the Members of Congress can do is to design their steps to help resolving the peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict that would ensure basic human rights of all displaced persons, serve to the peaceful coexistence both between the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Azerbaijan’s Nagorno Karabakh region and the countries of the region. This would be an exemplar US leadership and victory of human rights over the continuing discrimination. Let me also emphasize that the forcibly displaced Azerbaijani community works tirelessly to advance the cause of peace, peaceful settlement of the conflict and the peaceful coexistence and prosperity of the both communities of the Nagorno Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. We are very thankful to the international community and respective leaders, including in the US who are supporting this benign cause and call on others opposing it to reverse their malign course,” the letter reads. 

Apa.az