Rep. Sherman: we must hold Azerbaijan accountable for injustice

PanARMENIAN.Net - Congressman Brad Sherman was presented the Mkhitar Gosh medal at a Congressional celebration of the 21st anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh held on Dec 5.

Earlier this year, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan awarded the Mkhitar Gosh Medal to Mr. Sherman for his efforts to enhance U.S.-Armenian relations and to achieve international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Sherman, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has been leading efforts since 1997 to provide U.S. aid to the people of Artsakh.

In his remarks during the celebration, Congressman Sherman said:

“Today we celebrate Artsakh's freedom and independence. Artsakh continues to strengthen its democracy and held its fifth presidential election this year. The election in July 2012 was monitored and deemed free and fair by international observers.

“Despite Azerbaijan’s deeply unjust blockade and a devastating war in from 1991 to 1994, Artsakh continues to solidify its democracy and improve its economy. Nagorno Karabakh has been successful in its transition from a state-run economy to a market economy, which helped achieve steady economic growth.

“I was the first member of Congress to introduce legislation for direct aid to Nagorno-Karabakh. In 1997, I introduced an amendment during the House International Relations Committee’s consideration of a foreign aid authorization bill for fiscal year 1998 for direct U.S. humanitarian aid to Nagorno Karabakh. While this amendment did not pass, it accelerated the movement for direct U.S. aid to Artsakh.

“In September 2012, I backed Nagorno Karabakh’s efforts to reopen the airport in Stepanakert. The opening has been delayed several times. Unfortunately, officials in Baku have threatened to shoot down civilian planes traveling to Stepanakert. It is time for that airport to open.

“I condemn Baku’s pardoning and freeing of an Azeri axe-murderer, Ramil Safarov , who was imprisoned in Hungary for killing an innocent Armenian officer in his sleep in Budapest. We must hold Azerbaijan accountable for this grave injustice.”