ANCC urges Canadian Government to immediately condemn Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno Karabakh

The Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) calls upon the Canadian government to immediately condemn the unprovoked attack by Azerbaijani forces on positions along the entire border with Nagorno Karabakh with heavy artillery, tanks and air power. Civilians have been killed and injured. Although Nagorno Karabakh troops have defended their positions and managed to repulse the brunt of the attack, there have been heavy casualties on both sides and the fighting continues, ANCC says in a statement. 

In a letter addressed to Minister of Global Affairs Stephane Dion, ANCC President Dr. Girair Basmadjian calls upon the Canadian government to uphold its policy of seeking a peaceful resolution to this conflict by immediately condemning this attack and calling upon the Aliyev regime to respect its obligations under the 1994 ceasefire agreement. Unless the Canadian government immediately joins with the United States and its European allies in unequivocally condemning this blatant act of aggression by the Republic of Azerbaijan against the people of Nagorno Karabakh, the Aliyev regime will believe that there is no price to be paid for violating the ceasefire, said Dr. Basmadjian. He stressed that the Armenian people want a peaceful resolution to this conflict, but there can only be peace if Azerbaijan respects the agreements that it signs and ends its attacks against the population of Nagorno Karabakh.

On April 1 night, the Azerbaijani army attacked the positions of the NKR Defense Army along the entire line of contact, using artillery, armored vehicles and air force. The adversary targeted also the populated areas and civil facilities. Fierce battles are still going on along the line of contact. The Armenian Air Defense Forces took retaliatory measures, shooting down 2 Azerbaijani military helicopters, 2 drones, and destroying 3 battle tanks. The adversary has suffered serious human losses (over 200 people). The Armenian side has also suffered losses – 18 victims and 35 wounded. The situation remains critically tense.