CLINTON FAILS TO PROPERLY CONDEMN AZERBAIJANI ATTACKS; ANCA URGES U.S. KARABAKH POLICY BASED ON DEMOCRACY AND SELF-DETERMINATION

“If the founding fathers were following the State Department's logic in 1776, the U.S. would still be a British colony." – ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian

July 4, 2010

WASHINGTON, DC – Armenian National Committee of America Exec. Director Aram Hamparian made the following statement following Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Edouard Nalbandian held earlier today in Yerevan, Armenia.

“We were disappointed to see Secretary Clinton – in Baku and again in Yerevan – repeat the State Department’s generic call on all parties to refrain from the use of force, when it has been Baku alone that has both threatened and acted upon its warnings of renewed war. This type of diplomatic language may, at least superficially, appear evenhanded, but, in terms of U.S. interests in regional stability, is actually counter-productive, in that it ignores and even encourages continued Azerbaijani aggression.”

“Inspired by our American Independence Day, we had hoped that Secretary Clinton would issue an open call for a lasting resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict based on the fundamental values of democracy and self-determination. After all, if the founding father were following the State Department’s logic in 1776, the U.S. would still be a British colony.”

Click here for a timeline of Azerbaijani war rhetoric and aggression against Nagorno Karabakh since 2007.

Earlier today, Secretary Clinton met with Armenian President Sargisyan and Foreign Minister Nalbandian and is scheduled to remain in Armenia until the morning of July 5th, when she will meet with representatives of media and organizations promoting civil society.

It is unclear whether Secretary Clinton will visit the Armenian Genocide Memorial Monument. Hamparian explained, “If the Secretary does, in fact, visit the Armenian Genocide Memorial, as she should, her presence in this sacred place will hold meaning for Armenians worldwide to the extent that it marks a real break from Washington’s bankrupt policy of complicity in Turkey’s denials. Alternatively, if the Secretary, during her visit to the Memorial, does not reverse U.S. policy by fully recognizing the Armenian Genocide, this episode will, sadly, be seen as yet another in a long line of actions – each meaningful in their own right, but ultimately all half-measures – designed to defer proper U.S. condemnation of this crime against humanity.”

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