U.S. Representative Jackie Speier has spoken out against remarks by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who claimed on Thursday, December 10 that Yerevan, Sevan and Syunik in Armenia are "the historical territories of Azerbaijan."

"Aliyev’s words – laying claim to Armenia as “historical Azerbaijani lands” – are chilling and evoke Ottoman rhetoric before the Armenian Genocide," Speier said in a tweet. "Once and for all, the U.S. must end security assistance to Azerbaijan to prevent future military aggression and human rights abuses!"

Aliyev made the remarks during a military parade in Baku, celebrating Azerbaijan's "victory" in a devastating war against Nagorno-Karabakh. Also attending the event was Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who delivered a speech and celebrated one of the masterminds of the Armenian Genocide, Enver Pasha, as a hero.