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Text of Letter to U.S. Representatives to Cosign the Valadao Letter to Stop U.S. Arms and Aid to Azerbaijan
Dear Representative:
I am writing to ask you to co-sign the Congressional letter, spearheaded by Representative Valadao and his colleagues in the leadership of the Armenian Caucus, calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to stop any U.S. military or security assistance to Baku that contributes directly or indirectly to Azerbaijan’s military operations, activities, or capabilities.
This letter is urgently necessary in light of President Biden’s recent decision to waive Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, a statutory restriction on U.S. assistance to the government of Azerbaijan. This reckless and irresponsible waiver – in the wake of Azerbaijan’s attack on Artsakh last fall and amid ongoing aggression against Armenia – runs counter to the letter of President Biden’s campaign statements and is at odds with the spirit of his recognition of the Armenian Genocide. U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide should carry with it serious responsibilities, among them not arming and abetting Azerbaijan’s drive to complete this crime.
The President’s decision to waive Section 907 and sending U.S. military aid to Baku signals a dangerous business-as-usual approach toward Azerbaijan – one that emboldens the Aliyev regime to launch new and even more lethal attacks against the indigenous Armenian homeland. Congress needs to restore balance to U.S. policy, putting the brakes on Baku’s aggression.
You know the facts. Last fall, Azerbaijan – with the backing of Turkey and foreign mercenaries – committed war crimes against the Armenians of Artsakh, including through the use of cluster-bombs, phosphorus munitions, and other prohibited weapons against civilian areas. Having ethnically cleansed vast areas of Artsakh, Baku and Ankara continue to threaten both Artsakh and Armenia’s very existence on indigenous Armenian lands.
The Biden Administration must reverse its waiver, fully enforce Section 907, stop all U.S. military aid, and put in place a comprehensive set of crippling sanctions against both Azerbaijan and Turkey. The Congress, for its part, must roll back the Executive Branch’s authority to waive this law, which places much-needed, common-sense restrictions on direct U.S. aid to the undemocratic and anti-Armenian government of Azerbaijan.
I look forward to hearing back from you regarding your support for the Valadao letter.
Sincerely,
Letter to U.S. Representatives Thanking them for Co-Signing the Valadao Letter to Stop U.S. Arms and Aid to Azerbaijan
Dear Representative:
I am writing to thank you for your leadership in support of the Congressional letter, spearheaded by Representative Valadao and his colleagues in the leadership of the Armenian Caucus, calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to stop any U.S. military or security assistance to Baku that contributes directly or indirectly to Azerbaijan’s military operations, activities, or capabilities.
This letter is urgently necessary in light of President Biden’s recent decision to waive Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, a statutory restriction on U.S. assistance to the government of Azerbaijan. This reckless and irresponsible waiver – in the wake of Azerbaijan’s attack on Artsakh last fall and amid ongoing aggression against Armenia – runs counter to the letter of President Biden’s campaign statements and is at odds with the spirit of his recognition of the Armenian Genocide. U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide should carry with it serious responsibilities, among them not arming and abetting Azerbaijan’s drive to complete this crime.
The President’s decision to waive Section 907 and sending U.S. military aid to Baku signals a dangerous business-as-usual approach toward Azerbaijan – one that emboldens the Aliyev regime to launch new and even more lethal attacks against the indigenous Armenian homeland. Congress needs to restore balance to U.S. policy, putting the brakes on Baku’s aggression.
You know the facts. Last fall, Azerbaijan – with the backing of Turkey and foreign mercenaries – committed war crimes against the Armenians of Artsakh, including through the use of cluster-bombs, phosphorus munitions and other prohibited weapons against civilian areas. Having ethnically cleansed vast areas of Artsakh, Baku and Ankara continue to threaten both Artsakh and Armenia’s very existence on indigenous Armenian lands.
The Biden Administration must reverse its waiver, fully enforce Section 907, stop all U.S. military aid, and put in place a comprehensive set of crippling sanctions against both Azerbaijan and Turkey. The Congress, for its part, must roll back the Executive Branch’s authority to waive this law, which places much-needed, common-sense restrictions on direct U.S. aid to the undemocratic and anti-Armenian government of Azerbaijan.
I look forward to sharing your leadership on this issue with my family and community.
Sincerely,