ANC of Nevada urges Governor to retract Proclamation of Azerbaijani Remembrance Day

PanARMENIAN.Net - The ANC of Nevada has responded to a proclamation issued by Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons which proclaimed March 31 as Azerbaijani Remembrance Day. The proclamation commemorates "the deaths of tens of thousands of Azerbaijani civilians due to the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict" and the so called "March Massacres" of 1918 in Baku, Azerbaijan.



The proclamation, the timing of which is highly questionable, has caused great consternation and substantial outrage in the Armenian American community in Nevada and throughout the country. Based on manipulative news coverage in the Azerbaijani and international press, it appears this proclamation has been promoted by interests wishing to oppose the self-determination of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) and further to distract attention from efforts to recognize the Armenian Genocide.



"The Armenian-American community throughout the state of Nevada is shocked that Governor Gibbons was so easily misled and manipulated by foreign interest groups representing the governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey and their high priced lobbyists. We expect our Silver State public officials to do their homework and represent the interests of their constituents here in Nevada," stated ANC Nevada spokesperson Razmik Ablo.



In a letter to the Governor, the ANC of Nevada expressed the community's outrage and disappointment over the proclamation's wording which refers to NKR as a part of Azerbaijan's "territorial integrity" when the US State Department and OSCE Minsk Group have made clear that the right of self-determination for the people of NKR is an equal priority. The letter also states that "this proclamation is currently being offered as human rights activists around the world prepare for the observation of the international day of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide on April 24. As you are also aware, the Turkish government and its foreign agents deny the historical reality of this crime. Unfortunately, scores of news stories emanating from the Azerbaijani press are utilizing your proclamation as a subterfuge for genocide denial by stating that this proclamation supports the idea that Armenians committed genocide against Azerbaijanis at the time."



The historical record regarding the period in question makes it clear that civil war raged in the area. According to documents in the United States Library of Congress and publications of that era such as the New York Times, pro-Russian communist forces engaged in isolated acts of violence. These acts were not systematic and widespread, such as tactics implemented in the Armenian Genocide, Holocaust and Darfur.



"As committed human rights advocates, we do not minimize the suffering of any people at any time - but instead call attention to the politically motivated nature of the proclamation… …we feel it is necessary to raise awareness of the true intentions of those interested in securing such proclamations from the governor of our state."



ANC of Nevada advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the area's Armenian American community and promotes increased Armenian American civic participation at the grassroots and public policy levels.