79 prominent scholars raise threat of new genocide against Armenians

PanARMENIAN.Net - 79 prominent scholars and intellectuals have warned the world to take action against against xenophobia, aggression, and war, and prevent new genocide against Armenians, which Azerbaijan and Turkey are about to perpetrate.

The statement released amid a large-scale aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh was signed by such important voices in history and genocide studies as Holocaust and genocide scholar and historian Yair Auron, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Peter Balakian, psychologist and genocide scholar Israel W. Charny, President of the International Association of Genocide Scholars Henry C. Theriault, political scientist and political philosopher Nancy L. Rosenblum, historian Matthias Bjørnlund, psychiatrist and author Robert Jay Lifton, writer, human rights and social activist Jack Nusan Porter, Founding President of Genocide Watch Greg Stanton, Holocaust and genocide scholar Elisa von Joeden-Forgey.

"We, as members of the academic community, demand that the international community takes direct and serious action so that the Azerbaijani aggression immediately ceases, and that anti-Armenian state propaganda and hatred in Azerbaijan and Turkey ends. We appeal to the international community to raise their voices against xenophobia, aggression, and war, and for the prevention of new genocide," the statement said.

Azerbaijan intentionally attacking civilians and civilian infrastructures, shelling settlements with cluster munitions and other weapons prohibited by international humanitarian laws, striking the iconic Shushi Holy Savior (Ghazanchetsots) Cathedral, as well as the involvement of Turkish armed forces and air forces, and the deployment of mercenaries identifying as jihadists from Syria and Libya in Azerbaijan are violations of international law.

Turkey officially and continuously denies the Armenian Genocide, but various officials, including the president, have repeatedly hinted that Turkey is ready to once more "give a lesson" to Armenians, and that the “deportation” of Armenians in 1915 was the most appropriate decision at the time.

The position of the Azerbaijani leadership and society is even more aggressive than that of Turkey. For years, anti-Armenian discourse and propaganda have been part of official state policy, the academics said.

"In fact, history, from the Armenian Genocide to the last three decades of conflict, as well as current political statements, economic policies, sentiments of the societies and military actions by the Azerbaijani and Turkish leadership should warn us that genocide of the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, and perhaps even Armenia, is a very real possibility. All of this proves that Armenians can face slaughter if any Armenian territory is occupied, consequently recognizing of the independence of the Republic of Artsakh is the way to save Armenians of Artsakh from extermination now or in the near future."

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey and Syrian and Libyan mercenaries deployed by Ankara, started a war against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27. The Armenian side has reported deaths and injuries both among the civilian population and the military. Foreign and local journalists too have been injured in Azeri shelling of towns and villages.