Couple dozen U.S. lawmakers joined on Capitol Hill to warn against  Azerbaijan`s attempt to ethnically clean Artsakh

ArmInfo. Two dozen U.S. Senators and Representatives joined today on Capitol Hill, on the eve  of April 24th, the international day of justice for the Armenian Genocide - to warn against Azerbaijan's ongoing attempts to ethnically cleanse the 120,000 Christian Armenians living in freedom  upon their indigenous Artsakh homeland, reported the Armenian  National Committee of America (ANCA).

 "The message today from Capitol Hill to President Biden is, very simply: 'Prevent a second  Armenian Genocide; stop sending American arms and aid to  Azerbaijan,'" said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "President  Biden cannot credibility condemn the Armenian Genocide while arming  and abetting the racist, oil-rich dictatorship hell-bent on  completing this very crime." The annual Capitol Hill Armenian  Genocide observance, organized in cooperation with the Congressional  Armenian Caucus, was streamed live on the ANCA's social media  platforms, and available here:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ondcrzmDa4 Congressional Armenian  Caucus founding Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) praised the Armenian  American community's persistence in securing Congressional and then  Presidential recognition of the Armenian Genocide in 2019 and 2021,  respectively, but stressed that there is more work to do.  "What we  see happening in Artsakh, both with the attack, the aggression that  took place a couple of years ago, and the cutting off of the Lachin  Corridor, in my opinion, is nothing more a continuation of the  genocide," stated Pallone. "We know the people in Artsakh are  suffering, not having enough food, not having medical supplies. To  me, that sounds like genocide, but we're not going to allow it to  happen," concluded Rep. Pallone.  Senate Foreign Relations Committee  Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ), whose wife Nadine's grandfather was  killed during the Armenian Genocide, discussed the "acute  humanitarian crisis" in Artsakh resulting from Azerbaijan's blockade,  their ongoing torture and murder of POWs, and aggression against  Armenia and Artsakh.  "Suffice it to say that I'm strongly opposed to  having any aid go to a fighting force known for war crimes and  aggression against a neighbor state. We should not be in bed with  governments like Azerbaijan. It's inexcusable. It's morally  repugnant. It's got to stop." He continued, noting that continued  U.S. security assistance to Azerbaijan "not only damages American  national security interests, it flies in the face of our duty to  honor the victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide, and our  duty to ensure that history does not repeat itself again." Speaker  Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), citing her historic Congressional trip  to Armenia last year, noted the significance of the Capitol Hill  Armenian Genocide commemoration.  "As we make clear by tonight's  meeting, preventing a second Armenian Genocide, we must ensure that  these atrocities never happen again." Speaker Emerita Pelosi  continued, "There must be a negotiated, comprehensive, and lasting  settlement to this conflict so that we can pave a way to peace and  security. Make no mistake, support for the Armenian people transcends  partisanship and politics." California Senator Anthony Padilla  announced his upcoming introduction of a Senate resolution condemning  Azerbaijan's Artsakh blockade.  "And after condemning Azerbaijan, I'm  urging the United States government to take immediate steps to end  the ongoing and growing humanitarian crisis. The U.S. government  needs to live up to its word that we will never ignore the warning  signs of genocide and we will never let this happen again. It is time  to act," concluded Senator Padilla.  Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)  concurred, noting, "Armenians are still under attack today, including  those who lost their lives in Artsakh, many forced to flee from the  unprovoked aggression of Azerbaijan and Turkey, Azerbaijan's  unprovoked assault on the sovereign territory of Armenia, and the  thousands of Armenians who remain at risk of another genocide as  Azerbaijan tries to drive them out of Artsakh and Armenia."  Rep.  Schiff warned, "over the past few months we've reached a critical  point in the hostility of Azerbaijan towards Armenia and Artsakh. And  I can tell you I've never been more concerned than I am today that  Azerbaijan may intend another all-out war on Armenia and Artsakh."  Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) reminisced about the powerful impact of his  trip to Artsakh in 2017, noting, "And it was an interesting  experience to go there [Artsakh] and see for myself these people that  have fought for themselves, have defended their nation, and did  everything they possibly could to be a free society. [...] And it's  something that I know across the aisle, both Democrat and Republican,  we're going to continue to fight to work to resolve this as quickly  as we possibly can." Members of Congress also pledged support for the  Armenian Genocide Education Act set to be introduced next week,  spearheaded by Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis  (R-FL), Ted Lieu (D-CA), and David Valadao.  This landmark  legislation - strongly supported by the ANCA - seeks to provide $10  million in funding over five years for the Library of Congress to  educate Americans about Ottoman Turkey's systematic and deliberate  state-sponsored mass murder, national dispossession, cultural  erasure, and exile of millions of Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians,  Chaldeans, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, and other Christians,  between 1915 and 1923.  Additional Senate and House Members who  offered powerful remarks throughout the evening included: Senator  Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Representatives: Judy Chu (D-CA), Jim Costa  (D-CA), Young Kim (R-CA), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Seth Magaziner (D-RI),  Grace Meng (D-NY), Katie Porter (D-CA), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Brad  Sherman (D- CA), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), and  Dina Titus (D-NV).  Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and Representatives Josh  Gottheimer (D-NJ), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI),  also joined in the solemn Armenian Genocide remembrance.  Artsakh  Representative to the U.S. Robert Avetisyan stressed that there was a  "different sense of urgency" during this year's commemoration.  "It  is clear for us in Artsakh and increasingly in Armenia that there is  a historic opportunity to de-Armenize Artsakh, to take control and  eventually modify or destroy the first Armenian Church. To take  control, cut the cross, transform our millennial churches. Yes, there  is a historic opportunity for Erdogan to do what he promised to do in  2020, when they paired up with Azerbaijan in international terrorism  and attacked Artsakh. There's a historic opportunity for them to  finish the deal and mission of their forefathers in the Caucasus. The  blockade continues. The threats continue. The attempt at ethnic  cleansing continues. So should our struggle." Keynote speaker Dr.  Michael Rubin, a senior fellow of the American Enterprise Institute,  made a powerful case against the presidential waiver of Section 907  restrictions on U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan.  "Section 907  and the waiver of Section 907 is ingrained in law. To make excuses  inside the State Department is an affront not to Democrats, not to  Republicans, but to the entire Congress. This is about respect for  Congress, respect for the law. If anyone wants to traffic military  equipment to Azerbaijan, when President Aliyev makes it very clear in  his statements, including his statement yesterday, that he intends to  affect population transfer, ethnic cleansing, and so forth, let that  Congressman or Senator stand up and say that we need to sell weaponry  to Azerbaijan despite what we see is a looming resumption of  genocide." The Armenian Genocide commemorative evening spotlighted  the vibrant coalition of organizations standing with Artsakh and  Armenia as they face Azerbaijan's genocidal actions.  Hellenic  American Leadership Council Government Affairs Director Dean Tsilikas  served as master of ceremonies of the evening.  Several ANCA  coalition partners offering remarks included In Defense of Christian  Executive Director Richard Ghazal, American Friends of Kurdistan  President Diliman Abdulkader, and A Demand for Action Executive  Director Steve Oshana.  Congressional Armenian Staff Association  Chair Maria Martirosyan Issakhanian stressed the impact of the  Armenian Genocide on the commitment of Armenian American staffers to  bring about positive change.  "While centuries of persecution and  displacement may have resulted in lost family histories, generational  trauma, and lost economic opportunities, it has also instilled in us  the ability to survive, persevere, and thrive. And today,  Armenian-American congressional staff harness their experience,  strengths, and talents to help shape the future of this nation and   the world." His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Prelate of  the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of the United  States, offered a stirring invocation sharing the Armenian American  experience, noting, "We will walk despite awful deniers, distortions,  and oppressions. For our patience is deeper than the oceans. Our  aspirations are higher than the mountains.  Our will and our  commitment are as solid as granite. [.] May we carry our yoke  consciously and willingly for the ultimate victory of truth, justice,  and peace." Also offering remarks were ANCA Executive Director Aram  Hamparian and Armenian Assembly of America National Board member Aram  Gavoor.  Highlights of Congressional and Coalition Organization  Remarks in Solidarity of Artsakh and Armenia and Marking the 108th  Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide:  Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ):  "We are united in our commitment to Armenian sovereignty, we're  united in our commitment to human rights, and we're going to continue  to do everything we can to avoid a humanitarian crisis. Now more than  ever, we have to acknowledge our shared responsibility. Now more than  ever we have to call out violence against innocent people in all  shapes and forms. And I want to say thank you because the work cannot  stop." Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA): "I am proud to be one of the only  members of Congress to visit both Armenia and Artsakh. And I saw for  myself what a beautiful place Artsakh was. But I do have to tell you  that Azerbaijan warned me not to go, so when I came back, they banned  me from the country. Yeah. And it's a badge of honor, yes. And it  actually strengthened my resolve to stop Azerbaijan's continued  aggression and their illegal plundering of Artsakh, it made me even  more determined to stand by the people of Armenia and Artsakh as they  struggle for their right to self-determination." Rep. Jim Costa  (D-CA): "And I'd like to say, many of you have heard me say it  before, my name is Aram. I come from the land of William Saroyan.  With fondness and deep appreciation and a great deal of pride, the  Armenian diaspora obviously found its way into so many parts of our  country and the world. [.] With the situation in Artsakh today, more  work needs to be done. Once again, Azerbaijan is demonstrating its  disregard for its respect of a sovereign nation, and a people that  they are neighbors with. And the world is watching." Rep. Young Kim  (R-CA):  "I am proud to co-sponsor the Armenian Genocide Education  Act in the 117th Congress, and I look forward to continuing to work  with my colleagues to advocate for the genocide recognition or  lifting the blockade or attending local community events. I have a  lot of friends in the Armenian American community.  I'm proud to  continue to be an advocate for you so please consider me as one of  your strongest friends and advocate here working on your behalf,  being your voice." Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY):  "As we remember the  Armenian Genocide, we must also acknowledge the conflict over  Artsakh. Most recently in this chapter, Azerbaijan launched a  blockade around Artsakh. This blockade is causing immense suffering  to the Armenian people living there. It is a violation of their human  rights. We must work towards ending this blockade, ensuring that  Artsakh has access to necessary resources like food and medicine. As  we stand here today, we not only remember the past, but also support  the present and the future of the Armenian people." Rep. Seth  Magaziner (D-RI): "As we speak today, 120,000 Armenians are trapped,  cut off from food, medicine, and fuel, part of Azerbaijan's  longstanding campaign of aggression. Together with my colleagues from  the Congressional Armenian Caucus, we have requested $50 million of  funding for rebuilding and resettling efforts, including food,  energy, security, Internet access, maternal health care, and water.  We have requested restriction of military assistance to Azerbaijan,  urging Azerbaijan to free Armenian prisoners of war. The blockade of  Artsakh must end, and it must end now." Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY): "As  part of these remembrance efforts, I am proud to be a co-sponsor of  the Armenian Genocide Education Act, which would promote greater  public awareness and understanding of the history, lessons,  consequences, and ongoing costs of the Armenian Genocide. Not only do  we need to remember the past, but we must recognize the ongoing  tragedies right in front of us. The blockade of Artsakh is simply  unacceptable. Families and their lives have been turned upside down.  I know many of you in this room have family, friends, and loved ones  in Artsakh who continue to be impacted by Azerbaijan's hateful  policies. Please know that I and my colleagues stand with you in  calling for the end to this unjust blockade." Rep. Katie Porter  (D-CA): "The goal is clear, to force the ethnic Armenians of Artsakh  from their homeland by imposing conditions that make life impossible.  Our response must also be clear. We must hold Azerbaijan accountable  for its aggression, and I will keep calling, and if needed, pushing,  the Biden administration to be proactive in taking steps to end this  blockade. American taxpayers should not be subsidizing Azerbaijan's  hostility against the Armenian people. As long as the aggression  continues, Azerbaijan should not receive any military assistance."  Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL): "As we gather here, we're at the  four-month mark of Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Artsakh  border, the sole entry point from Armenia to Artsakh. The blockade  has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis with shortages of  critical supplies such as food, medical equipment, as well as  intermittent energy and internet service for the residents of  Artsakh.  That's why it's so important that we speak out and why I  join with my colleagues in condemning Azerbaijan's blockade and  calling for using every tool available to bring it to an end. Yet  despite our calls and an order from the International Court of  Justice to take all measures, the blockade continues and the  residents of Artsakh continue to suffer. We cannot and we will not   sit idly by." Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA):  "While 115,000 or more  Armenians are besieged, we reflect on the fact that the blockade is  the tactic. The effect of the blockade is human deprivation. The goal  of the blockade is to ethnically cleanse Artsakh. And the result of  the blockade will be failure. Because the Armenians who have lived  there for over a thousand years aren't going anywhere. So that's why  I've joined colleagues in demanding that we look at sanctions on  Azerbaijan, starting with enforcing, of course, Section 907 and  completely eliminating any aid to Azerbaijan." Rep. Abigail  Spanberger (D-VA): "The violence in Nagorno-Karabakh continues today  on the 129th day of the blockade. And the roughly 120,000 civilians  living through this blockade in Artsakh continue to experience food  and water shortages and severe lack of medical supplies, electricity  and other daily essentials. This is a man-made crisis created by the  Azerbaijani government. It is unjust, it is unconscionable, and the  current international strategy to open the corridor has proven to be  ineffective." Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA): Thank you for your advocacy  to make the right decision.  And you have, indeed, someone who will  also be a fierce advocate to make sure that the atrocities being  committed by Azerbaijan are not ever endorsed by the US government  and are always condemned. And so I'm here today because America  stands with Armenia, because Armenia, always with its values, stands  with America.  Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV): "It never seems to end as we  deal with the boycott of resources and humanitarian supplies in  Artsakh by Azerbaijan. On the Foreign Affairs Committee, we have  taken the position that we won't tolerate that, we won't support it,  we'll call for a ceasefire, call for a safe passageway for these  resources, and we'll continue to do that. So you can always count on  me, because I don't feel like we're friends, I feel more like we're  family." Dean Tsilikas, Government Affairs Director, Hellenic  American Leadership Council: "It is my honor to be your master of  ceremonies this evening, as we gather here at the Capitol and  commemorate the Armenian Genocide.  We have a distinguished list of  speakers this evening - legislators, diplomats, community leaders,  coalition partners - all are here tonight to lend their support in  recognizing the atrocities of the Armenian Genocide and to ensure  history does not repeat itself in Artsakh." Richard Ghazal, In  Defense of Christians:  "Impunity for the Armenian Genocide has set  dangerous precedent and showed the world that it's OK to destroy  entire ethnic and religious groups. There's been no accountability  for these acts, and the absence of consequences encourages greater  evil. [.] Even today, Turkish President Erdogan refers to Christians  as the remnants, the leftovers of the sword. According to him, the  Genocide has not yet been completed. We see the Genocide continue  even to this day by Azerbaijan, supported by Turkey itself in war  crimes against Armenians in Artsakh, and in the form of war crimes by  Turkey against Christians in Syria, Iraq, Cyprus, and yes, even  Christians in Nigeria, where Turkey supplies arms to an ISIS  franchise known as Boko Haram.  Steve Oshana, A Demand for Action:   "You know, one thing with Assyrian, Chaldean, Syriacs, Greeks,  Armenians, is that we are so inextricably linked, both in our faith  and in our suffering.  And our suffering is so deeply rooted in our  faith that to try to untangle that would be impossible. And so our  advocacy together is so important. And I would just like to take a  moment to thank the Armenian National Committee of America for being  steadfast partners of ours every time when our community has faced  struggles. And so what we see now with the legal blockade of  Azerbaijan and Artsakh, what we see the aggression of Turkey towards  the Kurdish community, towards the Syrians, and towards the Greeks in  Cyprus, it's a constant reminder that the genocide is, quite frankly,  not over.  We talk about stopping a second genocide, when in reality,  Erdogan and Aliyev are really bent on finishing the job that they  started." Diliman Abdulkader, President of the American Friends of  Kurdistan: "We have to call on Congress, we have to work together,  and that's why I'm proud as American Friends of Kurdistan, I'm proud  to stand with the Armenian people today, against genocide, to stop it  right now as it's happening, because if we don't, Turkey eventually  will connect with Azerbaijan and just call it one. There will be just  one giant Turkey and that's their main goal - to revive the Ottoman  Empire. These are the facts that we have to pay attention to, these  are the facts that we have to acknowledge. Once we acknowledge what's  going on on the ground, we can implement sanctions against  Azerbaijan. We can implement sanctions against Turkey. Because as my  colleagues, Richard [Ghazal] stated, if we do give them weapons, make  no mistake, it'll be used to erase these vulnerable peoples like  Armenia and Artsakh.  Aram Hamparian, Executive Director, Armenian  National Committee of America:  "The idea that we can talk our way or  trade our way to peace is a fiction. It's simply not in the cards.  Just in the last few days, we saw the surrender, essentially, of even  more land in Syunik. The hope, no doubt, behind that surrender is  something like, when the Azerbaijanis get what they want, they will  reciprocate with peace. The sad answer is they will not. The land  that we have, we must hold. The land that they seek, we must defend.   There is no alternative." Aram Gavoor, National Board Member,  Armenian Assembly of America:  "Right now, indigenous Armenian  populations have been subjected to a consistent campaign of  brutalization in Artsakh and within the internationally recognized  borders of the Republic of Armenia for many years, but acutely since  2020. [.] For Armenians worldwide and in this room, this feels like a  second Armenian Genocide is happening. In fact, perhaps a second  Armenian genocide is about to happen. The urgency cannot be more  significant than it is right now."