BREAKING: The U.S. Senate has passed Bill S. 3000 “Armenia Protection Act of 2023” and it is now awaiting House approval.
This bill revokes the US President's right to suspend Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, which will in turn prohibit military aid to Azerbaijan for a period of two years.
The bill, among other things, allows for providing Armenia with external military financing, entails the development of a security strategy for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh [editorial note: Artskah], and introduces sanctions against Baku 'for the actions of the Aliyev regime towards Armenians.'
Senator Gary Peters sponsored and introduced the bill on September 29, 2023 as Artsakh Armenians were being forcibly displaced from their homes by Azerbaijan’s dictatorship regime. Senator Peters led the US Congress delegation to Armenia in September 2023.
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I can never describe in writing the description of being exiled from one's own homeland. My whole heart goes out to the Armenian people who were expelled from their own lands in #Artsakh.
The Republic of #Azerbaijan deploys many genocidal propaganda points to justify its inhumane and horrific actions against Armenians in #Artsakh. Read
@LemkinInstitute’s new guide to learn how to identify these claims as well as how to counter them with the truth. (1/17)
Since the entire world is busy talking about Israel - Palestine, ignoring the ethnic cleansing of the Armenians of #Artsakh, Aliyev is gonna use the opportunity to attack #Armenia
It's disgusting how the world can show concerns about one and close their eyes on another genocide
The #USA sees a serious threat of war against #Armenia from #Azerbaijan. The US State Department has declared that the use of force is unacceptable. The State Department didn't deny Politico's report that Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned a small group of lawmakers last week that his department was monitoring the possibility that Azerbaijan could soon #invade Armenia.
The State Department is looking for ways to hold Azerbaijan accountable. The #US administration is concerned about Azerbaijan's actions against #NagornoKarabakh and the possibility of the conflict spreading. The Azeri threat to occupy territories from Armenia by #military force isn't new. Ilham #Aliyev issued an open threat in April 2021, claiming that "If Armenia wants, we will solve this issue more easily; if it doesn't want, we will solve it by force."
Just one month after this announcement, on May 12, Azerbaijan invaded the sovereign territories of Armenia. The attack took place the day after Sergey #Lavrov's visit to #Baku, which gives us grounds to claim that #Russia was complicit. Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack against Armenia in November 2021 as well. And the attack of September 13, 2022 was the biggest. In general, Azerbaijan has occupied 150 square kilometers of Armenia.
The US State Department provided an explanation to "Voice of America" regarding Politico's publication: "The United States continues to work with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia at the highest levels in pursuit of a dignified and lasting #peace in which the rights of all are respected. The use of force is unacceptable, and direct dialogue is important for the settlement of this protracted conflict" the State Department's response stated.
In a phone conversation on October 3, US lawmakers pressed #Blinken about possible measures against Aliyev in response to Azerbaijan's invasion of Nagorno #Karabakh in September. According to Politico, Blinken responded that the State Department was looking for ways to hold Azerbaijan accountable and didn't plan to circumvent a provision of the "Freedom Support Act" that prohibits the US from providing military aid to Azerbaijan, given its ongoing territorial disputes with Armenia.
Blinken added that the state sees a possibility that Azerbaijan will invade southern Armenia in the coming weeks. Still, Blinken expressed confidence in Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Anna Esho of California, and Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, about diplomatic talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The State Department emphasized the department's commitment to the "sovereignty and territorial integrity of Armenia" and to resolving the conflict "through direct negotiations." Speaking about the threat of war, the US mentions the search for ways to hold Azerbaijan accountable, which I think is a warning to Baku not to go to a new #war.
I think that the United States, as a global superpower, a member state of the #UN #SecurityCouncil, and one of the defenders of the world order, can no longer rely on the assurances of the leadership of Azerbaijan that Azerbaijan has no intention of a military attack against Armenia.
It's noteworthy that this Politico publication about Secretary of State Blinken's warning of war comes after Azerbaijani officials have recently assured that they have no intention of attacking Armenia. In other words, there's distrust on the part of the #UnitedStates towards the officials of Azerbaijan and their assurances.
On September 19, the day of the attack against Nagorno Karabakh, Aliyev's aide Hajiyev said: "Azerbaijan has no military goals against Armenia."
Elchin Amirbekov, the special representative of the President of Azerbaijan, stated in an interview with "Radio France" that Azerbaijan has no intention of starting a new war against Armenia.
Addressing concerns in #Yerevan and other circles about potential conflict in the south of Armenia, around the "Zangezur Corridor" Elchin Amirbekov affirmed that in the peace agreement "Azerbaijan will once again confirm its commitment to respecting the territorial integrity of our countries. Armenia's statements that Azerbaijan will wage war against its territory are completely groundless. We respect the territorial integrity of Armenia, like all other countries in the world."
In response to a direct question from "Radio France" about ruling out a new war, Elchin Amirbekov asserted that Azerbaijan doesn't intend to initiate hostilities. However, if Armenia attacks, we will not sit idly by: "Nevertheless, I don't think it is in Armenia's interests. We should return to the path of negotiations, taking advantage of the #EuropeanUnion's desire to advance the peace process.
Discuss border delimitation and communication channels. We should pay attention to these issues. There is no need to play a double game like Armenia, which declares readiness for negotiations with Azerbaijan but simultaneously engages in a diplomatic war on all fronts" noted Amirbekov.
Azerbaijan similarly denied any intention to start a war against #Artsakh, but the outbreak of war on September 19 contradicted these assurances. The ongoing perception of the threat of war by the US, despite Azerbaijani assurances, indicates a lack of belief in #Aliyev's dictatorial regime in the West. German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock stated: "Azerbaijan has broken its promise not to start a war."
To prevent Azerbaijan's attack against Armenia, the US should provide military and #security support to Armenia, restoring the military balance and pushing Azerbaijan back to constructive negotiations. Until this happens, Azerbaijan is likely to persist in its military threats and attacks against Armenia.
The credibility of Aliyev's words is in doubt. Azerbaijan, having attacked Karabakh once, likely will do that again. Even considering sanctions as a measure to prevent new aggressions by Azerbaijan seems powerless. Azerbaijan's alliance with Russia and #Turkey provides a means to circumvent #Western #sanctions.
If Azerbaijan genuinely has no intention of using military force to seize territories in Syunik (Zangezur Corridor) or Tavush (enclaves), Aliyev should publicly declare recognition of Armenia's territorial integrity of 29,800 square kilometers.
The refusal of the President of Azerbaijan to make such a declaration serves as further evidence that Azerbaijan is genuinely preparing for war against Armenia, with the intent to occupy territories.
The USA, as the responsible party for maintaining peace in the #SouthCaucasus, should not allow a dictator like Aliyev to occupy Armenian territories with impunity. The United States has the means to prevent such actions.
#Azerbaijan has 10million population & $2.996 billion military budget. Yet, its President need to step on flag to show that he is so “cool” that he managed to“defeat” 120,000 people, whom he was starving to death for 10 months.
Do all dictators have loser complexes like #Aliyev?
We will stand in solidarity with the Armenian people until the end. Because they have been subjected to injustice and oppression, we must support them as a requirement of being human.
#ArtsakhGenocide#Anonymous
Artsakh President’s decree on dissolving the Republic is illegal & illegitimate:
1. No President has the power to dissolve the Republic formed by the people with referendum;
2. That decree was signed as a result of Azerbaijani harsh aggression & threat of force.
It’s null & void.
My Plea to President Joe Biden to Stop Another Armenian Genocide. It’s time for America (and the world) to take action to protect Armenians from Azerbaijan. https://t.co/s53lRb59iz