Armenian National Committee of America increases pressure on White House and Congress: statement

Armenian National Committee of America continuously increases the pressure on President Biden’s administration and Congress, calling on the latter to adopt a resolution criticizing the genocidal blockade of Artsakh’s Christian population in the UN Security Council. The central office of the ARF Bureau ANCA issued a statement.

“More than 200,000 letters were sent to President Biden, Vice President Harris and members of both houses of the US Congress through special electronic platforms of the Armenian National Committee of America, calling on them to prevent the impending genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) caused by Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin Corridor for more than 250 days. It is the only humanitarian lifeline connecting Artsakh to Armenia.”

In particular, the addressees were requested to

-Adopt an appropriate resolution in the UN Security Council to condemn the Azerbaijani blockade of Artsakh and call for the immediate reopening of the Lachin Corridor, in accordance with the decision of the International Court of Justice on the application of an interim measure implying mandatory legal application. Stop American military and security assistance to Azerbaijan and fully implement the requirements of Article 907 of the Freedom Support Act (Section 907)

-provide American humanitarian aid for the Armenian population who became victims of Azerbaijani aggression in Artsakh.

-apply sanctions defined by American legislation against Azerbaijani officials responsible for the genocidal blockade of Artsakh

As for the congressional pressures on the executive arm of the US state power, we should note that on August 15, on the eve of the discussion convened by Armenia’s application at the UN Security Council, the chairman of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Robert Menendez and Senator Alex Padilla addressed a letter to the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, urging the latter to present a resolution demanding that Azerbaijan immediately end the eight-month blockade of Artsakh.

On August 14, Adam Schiff, co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, sent a letter to President Biden, calling on the United States to present a resolution to the UN Security Council, which would require Azerbaijan to immediately comply with the orders of the International Court of Justice. Schiff specifically noted:

“Though the U.S. government, the European Union, UN experts, and Russia have condemned the blockade and called for the corridor to be opened to regular traffic, Azerbaijan has ignored such statements for months. The U.S. Department of State and USAID have tried to use diplomacy to put an end to Aliyev’s blockade of the Lachin Corridor, but the time for statements and such calls has clearly long passed. The United States must take concrete actions and immediately use other tools to press Azerbaijan to return to compliance with international law and order.”

Adam Schiff published a video message on August 22, again calling on the US government to lead the UN Security Council resolution and implement the requirements of “Section 907” by stopping the US military assistance to Azerbaijan.

Frank Pallone, Co-Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Tony Cardenas, Judy Chu, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Seth Magaziner, Jim McGovern, Katie Porter, Dina Titus and Bill Cassidy also spoke about the urgent need for clear actions by the US government to end the Azerbaijani blockade of Artsakh.

The Armenian National Committee of America continues its multi-disciplinary work and strengthens community pressure in order to promote concrete actions by the US executive power aimed at unblocking Artsakh,” the statement says.