Azerbaijani non-governmental organisations condemn US Congressman's bill for assistance to Armenia

Representatives of Azerbaijan's civil society have condemned the US Congress' initiative to render financial assistance to revanchists in Armenia.

A group of Azerbaijani non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has written an open letter to Congressman Adam Schiff, the author of the "Artsakh Revenue Recovery Act for 2024", Caliber.Az reports, citing local media. 

"Dear Mr. Adam Schiff, we, representatives of Azerbaijani civil society and individuals forcibly displaced by the Armenian armed forces from our houses in the formerly occupied territories of Azerbaijan, are writing to express our condemnation of your initiative, the Artsakh Revenue recovery Act for 2024,” the letter says. 

According to the letter, this bill has been drafted thoughtlessly and is discriminatory, as it promotes one-sided narratives that are presented out of context, completely ignoring the plight and suffering of one group while favouring another. We recognize that ethnic and religious sympathies are the primary reasons for your discriminatory stance towards Azerbaijan. The adoption of such a document would constitute an affront to human rights and international law, and could herald instability, human suffering, and damage to the regional role of the US. 

It is disappointing to see an elected representative proposing such an initiative to advance private interests in favour of a particular lobby, rather than serving the public good. All of this undermines the universal values and principles that the US advocates. We, the individuals who have spent much of our lives under conditions of forced displacement and deprivation due to the illegal occupation and ethnic cleansing by Armenia, understand the exceptional value and necessity of the right to return. This right is an essential part of fundamental human rights, irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliation.

A UN delegation that visited the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan after the restoration of Azerbaijan's sovereignty in September 2023 stated that it "found no damage to civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and housing, or to cultural and religious sites" and "received no reports from local residents or others about violence against civilians following the recent ceasefire" (https://press.un.org/en/2023/db231002.doc.htm). 

Your discriminatory approach to the right of forcibly displaced Azerbaijanis to return home, in favour of Armenian lobbying groups, is morally reprehensible. You remained utterly silent while 750,000 Azerbaijanis faced ethnic cleansing and genocide in Khojaly, being deprived of their fundamental right to return for over thirty years. Now, you continue to be silent as landmines placed by Armenia continue killing and injuring innocent civilians simply exercising their right to return. 

We are grateful to the Azerbaijani government for ending the illegal occupation by Armenia, which has laid the groundwork for our right to a voluntary, safe, and dignified return. We believe that through extensive reconstruction and construction efforts by Azerbaijani authorities in the liberated territories, the remnants of war will be removed, paving the way for prosperity for all those displaced as a result of Armenia's illegal occupation. It is never too late to change and adopt a strong, non-discriminatory, and morally just position.

We understand that this requires courage and moral fortitude. However, if you prioritize not your personal interests but the interests of the United States, along with the long-deserved peace and prosperity of the peoples of Armenia and Azerbaijan, you could reconsider this unfounded and discriminatory bill. 

Otherwise, your current approach not only will fail to benefit the ordinary citizens of Armenia and Azerbaijan but will also significantly harm the interests of the US in this important region.

Sincerely, 

Konul Behbudova, "Missing Families of Karabakh" Public Union; 

Khatira Valiyeva, "Khankendi" Support for Internally Displaced Persons Public Union; 

Aziz Alakbarli, Western Azerbaijan Community; 

Hafiz Safikhanov, "Azerbaijani Campaign against Landmines" Public Union; 

Leyla Huseynova, "Social Protection of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons" Public Union; 

Jeyran Azizova, "For Recognition of the Khojaly Genocide" Public Union; 

Vugar Gadirov, "Youth Organization for Return and Revival" Public Union; 

Rey Karimoglu, Azerbaijan Mine Victim Association; 

Ayshan Huseynova, "Uncovering the Truth About the Genocide" Public Union; 

Zaur Ibrahimli, “Priority” Socio-Economic Research Centre Public Union; 

Irada Rzazade, "For the Social Welfare of Citizens" Public Union; 

Umud Mirzayev, International Eurasian Press Fund.

By Naila Huseynova