Saturday, November 18 2023 13:15

ArmInfo. The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) this week renewed the Armenian  American community's calls on the U.S. House to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its genocide of Artsakh, ensure conditions for the safe return of Artsakh Armenians to their indigenous homeland, and provide humanitarian aid to Artsakh refugees and security assistance to Armenia, reported the Armenian National Committee of America  (ANCA).

  In testimony submitted to the House Foreign Affairs Europe  Subcommittee hearing on "The Future of Nagorno Karabakh," ANCA  Programs Director Alex Galitsky outlined priorities across five key  areas:

  Holding Azerbaijan Accountable for Ethnic Cleansing

  With the Senate's unanimous passage of the Armenian Protection Act  (S.3000) this week blocking U.S.  military aid to Azerbaijan for  Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025, the ANCA urged the House Foreign Affairs  Committee to immediately consider companion bills (HR5683 & HR5686).   The ANCA also urged the Biden Administration to "immediately,  unconditionally, permanently and publicly enforce restrictions on  military assistance to Azerbaijan pursuant to Section 907 of the  FREEDOM Support Act, and impose Global Magnitsky Sanctions against  Azerbaijani officials complicit in human rights abuses."

  Galitsky explained that "the US failure to hold Azerbaijan  accountable would not only embolden Baku amid its threats toward  sovereign Armenia - it would undermine any confidence in Washington's  supposed commitment to human rights and democracy as a tenet of its  foreign policy, and demonstrate that confronting the threat of  authoritarianism is only a priority when geopolitically expedient."

  Providing Humanitarian Assistance to Armenia

  In response to USAID's recent announcement of just $11,500,000 in  humanitarian assistance to Artsakh's refugees, the ANCA testimony  pointed out that figure amounts to only about $95 per person. The  ANCA asked for additional humanitarian assistance via "supplemental  funding bills" and stresses the time- sensitive needs of the refugees  including but not limited to, "psychosocial support, trauma therapy,  medical assistance for individuals with disabilities, permanent  shelter for families ahead of the impending winter, maternity care,  and consistent access to basic human necessities." The ANCA also  stressed the importance of support programs for long-term economic  security through professional assistance in the form of, "ensuring  fair employment practices, access to education and vocational  training, as well as the development of regional infrastructure and  promoting long-term sustainable development goals."

  Securing Armenia from Renewed Azerbaijani Aggression

  "While the Biden Administration continues to express optimism in the  prospects of peace in the South Caucasus, Azerbaijani officials - far  from satiated by their territorial expansionism - continue to make  inflammatory territorial claims against sovereign Armenian  territory," stated Galitsky, noting that Azerbaijan already occupies  215 square kilometers (83 sq. miles) of Armenian territory since  their military incursion into the southern provinces of the country  in September 2022. He also pointed out that "Azerbaijan's aggressive  posturing against Armenia and threats of further military action are  supported by Turkey, which continues to play a destabilizing role in  the region."

  The ANCA went on to recommend the U.S. provide at least $10,000,000  in military financing to meet security needs and deter further  Azerbaijani aggression. Regarding Turkey, the ANCA called for an  investigation into potential violations of arms export law and  end-use agreements related to Turkey's participation in the 2020  Artsakh War, and urged suspending the sale and transfer of F-16s to  Ankara.

  With regard to strengthening Armenia's border security, the ANCA  advocated that the U.S., similar to Canada, participate in the  European Union's Monitoring mission in Armenia (EUMA) and join France  in opening a U.S. consulate in Syunik.

  Supporting an Internationally Guaranteed Right to Return

  Noting that, under international law, refugees are guaranteed a legal  right to return to the country from which they were displaced the  ANCA urged the U.S. to "proactively support the right of Armenians to  return to Artsakh with robust security guarantees under the auspices  of an international mission." Specifically, the ANCA recommended,  "the U.S. engage with international partners to establish an  international monitoring mechanism - through the passage of a United  Nations Security Council Resolution - that ensures the safety and  security of the Armenian people who seek to return to their homes."

  Investigating Human Rights Abuses

  The ANCA detailed Azerbaijan's pattern of human rights abuses,  including "summary execution of prisoners and hostages, the  deliberate targeting of schools, medical facilities, homes and  churches, and the use of prohibited weapons including cluster  munitions and white phosphorus." Galitsky also stressed that the  humanitarian blockade of Artsakh constituted genocide under  internationally recognized conventions.  In its policy  recommendations, the ANCA urged the House Foreign Affairs Committee  to "immediately mark up House Resolution 735, calling for an  investigation into Azerbaijan's human rights practices pursuant to  Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and assert its  oversight role over U.S.  military assistance to Azerbaijan. The U.S.  must also work to secure the immediate release of Armenian POWs  unlawfully held by Azerbaijan and amnesty for the illegally detained  members of Artsakh's political leadership."

  The ANCA's complete testimony is available at:

https://anca.org/assets/pdf/111523_HFAC_ANCA_AGTestimony.pdf