U.S. Congress Members Urge Biden on Artsakh Armenians

Members of the Congressional Armenian Caucus have released a joint statement in Washington ahead of the NATO summit, urging President Joe Biden to hold Azerbaijan accountable for the ethnic cleansing carried out in Nagorno-Karabakh, facilitate the return of Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh, and protect Armenia's sovereignty in the face of ongoing Azerbaijani aggression.

This was reported by the Armenian National Committee of America. The Congress members are calling on the Biden administration to ensure that Azerbaijan faces consequences for its actions, and that the military crimes, human rights violations, and ethnic cleansing of over 120,000 Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh go unpunished.

It is noted that the U.S. should support Armenia's sovereignty and reject Azerbaijan's aggressive demands. "This means halting military assistance to Azerbaijan and imposing sanctions on officials responsible for abuses," the statement reads.

The Congress members emphasize that as leaders gather in Washington for the NATO summit, the Biden administration must ensure that Azerbaijan adheres to international laws, including the return of Armenian prisoners of war, protection of cultural sites, and support for the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh so they can return to their homes under international guarantees.

“Accountability is crucial for sustainable peace in the South Caucasus,” the Congress members' statement concludes. The statement has been signed by Congress members Frank Pallone, Gus Bilirakis, Adam Schiff, and David Valadao.