Simon Abkarian, Taner Akcam, Ebrahim Golestan, Datevik Hovanesian, Jean-Claude Carrière, James Russell, Jost Gippert…

 These are some of more than 500 artists, scientists and professionals who have signed a petition calling for peace and an immediate ceasefire in Karabakh.

The petition begins:

“We, the undersigned, call on the international community, the citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the citizens of the Republic of Turkey to demand an immediate cease-fire to stop the war launched against Nagorno-Karabakh and the Republic of Armenia.”

The full open letter calling for an immediate ceasefire is published in full on www.wecallforpeace.com in seven languages.

American professor and Armenologist James Russell, Turkish professor and historian Taner Akcam, French writer Jean-Claude Carrier, Jazz singer Datevik Hovanesian, Actor and director Simon Abkarian, German professor and Caucasian-Iranian scholar Jost Gippert, UK, Film Director and Producer Ebrahim Golestan are among the artists, cultural figures, students of international educational institutions and professionals across the board who have signed the petition that draws attention to the large-scale military adventure undertaken by President Ilham Aliyev on September 27 against the population of Artsakh.

The petition concludes:

“Today’s situation is yet another outcome of the failure to globally recognize and condemn the 1915 Armenian Genocide․ In light of numerous violations of international laws, we call on all people and powers in the world to exert their influence on Azerbaijan and Turkey to put an end to this war immediately. We call for an immediate mediation process that guarantees the safety of all people throughout the region.”