#AdvocateForArtsakh Congressional Campaign Letters

I am writing, in the spirit of our American democratic tradition, to ask you support the brave Armenians of Artsakh (also known as Nagorno Karabakh).

As you know, in the late 1980s this proud people helped lead the democratic challenge that brought down the Soviet Empire, then went on, in 1991, to established their own independence. Today they seek nothing more than the same blessings of liberty and security that we enjoy as Americans. Despite war, a blockade, and ongoing aggression, Artsakh has, ove the course of more than a quarter century, built a robust democracy, empowered a free market economy, and contributed to the OSCE-led search for regional peace and cooperation.

My specific requests are in two areas, humanitarian needs and the search for peace:

1) Meeting Humanitarian Needs: Clearing Mines, Caring for the Disabled

Please work with your colleagues on the Appropriations Committee and in the House leadership to ensure that at least $5 million in targeted U.S. developmental aid is allocated to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), through the inclusion of the following report language:

— Completion of HALO Trust’s clearance of mines and unexploded ordnance:

The Committee recognizes that Nagorno-Karabakh has a per capita landmine accident rate among the highest in the world, and that mine clearance programs have been effective where implemented. The Committee is concerned with territorial restrictions placed on demining activities in the region and recommends continued funding for, and the geographic expansion of, such programs.

— Expansion of the Lady Cox Rehabilitation Center’s care for children and adults with physical and mental disabilities:

The Committee also recognizes that Nagorno Karabakh has growing unmet humanitarian needs, including the lack of sufficient rehabilitation centers to care for infants, children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities. Therefore, the Committee recommends funding for rehabilitation services and centers within Nagorno Karabakh.

2) Promoting Peace and Demanding Accountability

Please support the leadership of Chairman Ed Royce and Ranking Member Eliot Engel of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, authors of the Royce-Engel Peace Proposal. They are working, in a bipartisan manner, to secure strong U.S. leadership in the timely implementation of their three life-saving recommendations.

— An agreement from all sides not to deploy snipers, heavy arms, or other new weapons along the line of contact;

— The placement of OSCE-monitored, advanced gunfire-locator systems and sound-ranging equipment to determine the source of attacks along the line of contact.

— The deployment of additional OSCE observers along the line of contact to better monitor cease-fire violations.

Both Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) have agreed to the U.S.-backed Royce-Engel proposals. Only Azerbaijani is blocking their implementation by the OSCE. Until Azerbaijan ends this obstruction, halts its aggression and agrees to a purely peaceful settlement, I ask you to please call on our Congress to suspend all U.S. military aid to a corrupt Azerbaijani regime that neither needs nor deserves American military support.

Thank you for your consideration of my request. I look forward to hearing from you regarding any actions you take on the issues I have raised in this letter.

I am writing, in the spirit of our American democratic tradition, to ask you support the brave Armenians of Artsakh (also known as Nagorno Karabakh).

As you know, in the late 1980s this proud people helped lead the democratic challenge that brought down the Soviet Empire, then went on, in 1991, to established their own independence. Today they seek nothing more than the same blessings of liberty and security that we enjoy as Americans. Despite war, a blockade, and ongoing aggression, Artsakh has, ove the course of more than a quarter century, built a robust democracy, empowered a free market economy, and contributed to the OSCE-led search for regional peace and cooperation.

My specific requests are in two areas, humanitarian needs and the search for peace:

1) Meeting Humanitarian Needs: Clearing Mines, Caring for the Disabled

Please work with your colleagues on the Appropriations Committee and in the House leadership to ensure that at least $5 million in targeted U.S. developmental aid is allocated to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), through the inclusion of the following report language:

— Completion of HALO Trust’s clearance of mines and unexploded ordnance:

The Committee recognizes that Nagorno-Karabakh has a per capita landmine accident rate among the highest in the world, and that mine clearance programs have been effective where implemented. The Committee is concerned with territorial restrictions placed on demining activities in the region and recommends continued funding for, and the geographic expansion of, such programs.

— Expansion of the Lady Cox Rehabilitation Center’s care for children and adults with physical and mental disabilities:

The Committee also recognizes that Nagorno Karabakh has growing unmet humanitarian needs, including the lack of sufficient rehabilitation centers to care for infants, children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities. Therefore, the Committee recommends funding for rehabilitation services and centers within Nagorno Karabakh.

2) Promoting Peace and Demanding Accountability

Please support the leadership of Chairman Ed Royce and Ranking Member Eliot Engel of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, authors of the Royce-Engel Peace Proposal. They are working, in a bipartisan manner, to secure strong U.S. leadership in the timely implementation of their three life-saving recommendations.

— An agreement from all sides not to deploy snipers, heavy arms, or other new weapons along the line of contact;

— The placement of OSCE-monitored, advanced gunfire-locator systems and sound-ranging equipment to determine the source of attacks along the line of contact.

— The deployment of additional OSCE observers along the line of contact to better monitor cease-fire violations.

Both Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) have agreed to the U.S.-backed Royce-Engel proposals. Only Azerbaijani is blocking their implementation by the OSCE. Until Azerbaijan ends this obstruction, halts its aggression and agrees to a purely peaceful settlement, I ask you to please call on our Congress to suspend all U.S. military aid to a corrupt Azerbaijani regime that neither needs nor deserves American military support.

Thank you for your consideration of my request. I look forward to hearing from you regarding any actions you take on the issues I have raised in this letter.