Wednesday, May 31 2023 10:24

ArmInfo.Leaders and supporters of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) conferred last  week with U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) - Chairman of the  Senate Foreign Relations Committee - to encourage the Federal  Government to back the right to self-determination for the indigenous  Armenians in the Republic of Artsakh.

The Biden Administration is currently facilitating talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan that  would "integrate" democratic Artsakh into the Republic of Azerbaijan,  a genocidal state led by petro-dictator Ilham Aliyev.  

The ANCA is on record strongly objecting to the Biden  Administration's reckless foreign policy on Armenian issues and has  been urging Congressional leaders to reverse a policy that would lead  to a second Armenian Genocide, against the families of Artsakh.   "Chairman Menendez is a champion for Artsakh's freedom," remarked  ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian.  

"During these consequential days for the heroic people of Artsakh -  having Chairman Menendez lead the Senate Foreign Relations Committee  is more important than ever. We join with Armenian Americans from  across the nation in expressing appreciation for our constructive  dialogue with Chairman Menendez, including a strategic dialogue on  the need for an urgent course correction in terms of U.S.  policy on  Artsakh," added the ANCA Chairman.  

Several gatherings in support of Senator Menendez and his re-election  campaign were held in the State of California and included the  participation of individuals from across the United States. These  individuals were Democrats, Republicans, and Independents - who all  support the Senator because of his principled position that the  Armenians of Artsakh deserve the same rights as Americans enjoy to  live in freedom under a government of their own choosing.  

Late last year. Chairman Menendez held a hearing that led to a  stinging indictment of the U.S. policy on Azerbaijan, charging that  the State Department witnesses testifying at the hearing were "wholly  unresponsive" to concerns about the ongoing waiver of Section 907  restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan and the lack of meaningful  U.S. assistance to Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) and Armenia following  Azerbaijani attacks.  

Former Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs  Karen Donfried and former State Department Senior Advisor for  Caucasus Negotiations Philip Reeker were witnesses at the November  16, 2022 Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing titled "Assessing  U.S.  Policy in the Caucasus." Both Donfried and Reeker are no longer  employed by the U.S.  Department of State.  Chairman Menendez summed  up their responses at his hearing this way: "This has been one of the  most disappointing hearings I've ever held, but it has crystalized  some things for me.  One is, it seems to me the United States is in  bed with Azerbaijan."