U.S. Congressman slams Azerbaijan’s disregard for human life

PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff issued a statement to condemn the downing of an Artsakh Mi-24 helicopter by Azerbaijani forces.

“The apparent shootdown of an unarmed helicopter over the territory of the NKR, demonstrates Azerbaijan’s callous disregard for human life and its willingness to engage in provocative acts of violence to distract from its domestic problems,” said Rep. Schiff.

“This horrendous conduct threatens to destabilize the entire region.”

Meanwhile, Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director Aram Hamparian was critical of the Minsk Group statement, as it places “equal blame” on both sides.

“We regret the loss of life and express our condolences to the families,” the Co-chairs said in their statement, and added an appeal to both countries “to avoid steps that would escalate tension along the line of contact and Armenia-Azerbaijan border.”

“We remind the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan of their responsibilities to respect the ceasefire and honor the commitments they made in Sochi, Newport, and Paris to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict,” they said.

“While the Minsk Group Co-Chairs appear to appreciate the gravity of Azerbaijan’s aggression—as reflected in their welcome expression of ‘serious concern’ over Baku’s fatal attack on this helicopter—the OSCE’s public response once again falls back into the deeply flawed pattern of placing equal blame on both sides for hostility that all the world knows is being directed by one man, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan,” he said.

Hamparian also urged the White House to issue a “forceful” condemnation of the attack. “The Obama Administration must forcefully condemn Azerbaijan’s downing of an unarmed helicopter flying over Nagorno Karabagh, cut off all military aid to Baku and scale back bilateral contacts until President Aliyev ceases his aggression against Artsakh and Armenia,” Hamparian said.

“Our White House needs to give up on the long-ago discredited idea that there is some sort of parity between the parties. The facts are clear, and should guide U.S. policy: Artsakh is a democracy offering its hand in peace; Azerbaijan is a dictatorship escalating its anti-Armenian aggression. America should stand on the side of peace and democracy,” he concluded.