WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Gary Peters (D-MI), John Kennedy (R-LA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) released the following joint statement calling on the Biden administration to take urgent steps to deter any Azerbaijani military action against Armenia.
“What we’re seeing in Nagorno-Karabakh is deeply troubling—the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, a centuries-old indigenous population, are being forced to flee their ancestral homeland because of the violence directed at them by the Azerbaijani government,” said the senators. “This is the definition of ethnic cleansing and, disturbingly, there are signs that the military of Azerbaijan may launch future attacks. While we appreciate the Biden Administration’s efforts to address the emerging humanitarian crisis, these efforts have so far failed to persuade President Aliyev to change course. Preventing further catastrophe tomorrow requires a strong response today without delay.”
“We urge the Administration to coordinate with the European Union and make it clear to the Aliyev regime that any further military action is completely unacceptable and will be met with consequences. It’s critical the U.S.—alongside our European partners— dispatches additional humanitarian aid, enlists international monitors in Nagorno-Karabakh in addition to both sides of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and reassures the Armenian population of our unwavering support. It’s time we hold Azerbaijan accountable for its unacceptable ethnic cleansing and clear pattern of aggression,” continued the senators.
Two weeks ago, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee expressed profound concern about Azerbaijan’s cruel blockade in Nagorno-Karabakh and expressed growing fears that it might engage in further military aggression, which has now occurred in recent days.
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