Senator Bill Cassidy | Sen. Bill Cassidy Official Website
Senator Bill Cassidy | Sen. Bill Cassidy Official Website
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 a joint statement today urging the Biden administration to take urgent steps to deter any Azerbaijani military action against Armenia in the ongoing conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.
"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."
The senators called on the Biden 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. They emphasized the need for the U.S. to work alongside European partners to dispatch additional humanitarian aid, enlist international monitors in Nagorno-Karabakh and both sides of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, and reassure the Armenian population of unwavering support.
In addition, the senators highlighted the need to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its actions. "It’s time we hold Azerbaijan accountable for its unacceptable ethnic cleansing and clear pattern of aggression," they continued.
The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee expressed profound concern about Azerbaijan’s blockade in Nagorno-Karabakh two weeks ago and voiced growing fears of further military aggression, which has now occurred in recent days.
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