“These people are not subject to bargaining. They cannot be used as political leverage. They are fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. Their families have waited too long, more than 1000 days. It’s time to bring them back home. And we will continue to work together not only to achieve this goal, but to be able to preserve and protect the Armenian people, their rights and heritage in the future,” on the occasion of the 1000th day of the imprisonment of Armenian prisoners held in Baku. of the press conference held in the US Congress US Congressman Jim Costa mentioned.
He stated that the families of Armenian prisoners of war have been waiting for answers for 1000 days. They are waiting for their relatives to return home. “We are here today because it is important to never forget the ongoing crimes of Azerbaijan. Despite all the attempts made to hide the reality, it is obvious that Azerbaijan continues to refuse to fulfill its obligations.
According to the US congressman, Azerbaijan has taken responsibility for forcibly occupying the land of the people living in their homeland in Artsakh and invading there. “Artsakh was the homeland of more than 120 thousand Armenians. The communities, villages, churches and many historical monuments there were destroyed by Azerbaijan. However, these crimes are not limited to that. To be honest, they have decades of history. I am from California, where many Armenian families settled years ago, whose ancestors survived the first genocide of the 20th century, the Armenian Genocide. They managed to escape and start a new life in different countries. I grew up next to those families. I knew those people, I am friends with their children. I heard those stories from our neighbors and learned the history of the Armenian people from a young age.”
Keeping Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijani prisons is a gross violation of international law and fundamental human rights, according to the US congressman. “It followed the forced deportation of 120,000 Armenians from Artsakh, a human tragedy that the world cannot and should not forget. Congress has an opportunity to act this week. It is extremely important and we should all support this effort.
I have submitted another legislative amendment proposal, the purpose of which is to hold Azerbaijan accountable and ensure the release of Armenian prisoners of war. My proposal calls for the US State Department to suspend any security assistance to Azerbaijan until the government of Azerbaijan takes real and significant steps toward the unconditional release of Armenian prisoners of war and withdraws its troops from the sovereign territories of Armenia. When will Azerbaijan’s encroachment on the sovereign territory of Armenia stop?
We are also here to remind the international community that it is necessary to protect the Armenian cultural and religious heritage, the monuments and values that are endangered today.
Today, I simply call: Azerbaijan should immediately and without any preconditions release all Armenian prisoners of war and hostages. I also urge this administration to use all possible diplomatic means to achieve that goal. I told Secretary of State Marco Rubio about it. I clearly stated that it is necessary to act more decisively. He said that they are working in that direction. However, I replied that just working is not enough. We must use all the tools at our disposal so that Azerbaijan listens to this demand.
The entire press conference in the Congress is on video
Tatev Harutyunyan
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