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Fulbright Program Alumni: U.S. Must Recognize Artsakh Independence

To the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne M. Tracy:

The Fulbright Program's mission is to bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs and thereby increase the chance that nations will learn at last to live in peace and friendship. 

— Senator J. William Fulbright

Honorable Lynne M. Tracy,

We are Armenian students and alumni of the Fulbright Program, the ambassadors of the Program’s values, advocates for intercultural understanding, global peace and security. Despite our different academic backgrounds, we are all united in our mission of using our knowledge to make the world a better place. We all were fulfilling our commitment to implement our international experience in Armenia but our lives changed overnight. We woke up to a war…

On September 27th, the Azerbaijani army, backed by the Turkish government, launched a large-scale airborne, missile and land attacks along the entire line of contact between Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and Azerbaijan, targeting civilian settlements and infrastructure. For over two weeks now, the Azerbaijani army has been constantly shelling historic monuments, notably, the symbol of Christian faith of the people of Artsakh and an inseparable part of the world’s cultural heritage - Saint Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi. 

The aggression of Azerbaijan was not surprise to us, as 

  • on several occasions the Azerbaijani authorities have made militaristic statements on solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by the use of force;
  • Azerbaijan refused to sign the UN Secretary General's appeal for a global ceasefire (S/RES/2532(2020)), the aim of which was promoting collective efforts in the common fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and reaffirming the importance of “global unity and solidarity in confronting this scourge”;
  • earlier in July of 2020, Azerbaijan and Turkey launched a two-week long round of joint military exercises with the participation of ground and air forces from both countries;
  • Azerbaijan rejected the request of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office to monitor the line of contact. 

What is surprising to us, is the silence of many countries on Turkey’s explicit support of Azerbaijani aggression and their use of terrorists in the armed conflict. Moreover, some countries are even engaged in arms trade with Azerbaijan, disregarding its engagement in the armed conflict. 

The silence of the international community and both-sided statements on the conflict legitimizes the Azerbaijani aggression amid the global pandemic and the violation of the basic principles of international law and international humanitarian law, namely, the targeting of civilians and civilian objects, continuous shelling of civilian settlements in Artsakh. This silence makes the Turkish government even more confident to continue recruitment and transportation of jihadists from Syria to fight against the people who wish for nothing but a peaceful life in their homeland. 

Considering that the armed conflict poses a serious danger to the regional stability and threatens a bigger humanitarian catastrophe, it is devastating to see the world’s silence and tacit approval of Azerbaijani and Turkish aggression and acts of terrorism. It is unacceptable for the world’s leading advocates for peace and global security to take a neutral stand and only address the situation with vague statements that keep costing the lives of innocent people. 

We, as the members of the Fulbright Program Network, which advocates for peace, respect, and cultural understanding within local communities and the global world, hereby call upon the U.S. government, both as a UN Security Council Member and OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair country, to ensure the realization of the Artsakh’s people's right to peace by:

  • using its influence to ban the arms sales to Azerbaijan by the allies of the US;
  • starting an investigation of the acts of terrorism and terrorism financing by both Azerbaijani and Turkish governments, as evidenced by multiple reputable sources;
  • imposing sanctions on all parties engaged in the acts of terrorism and terrorism financing related to the armed conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh);
  • recognizing the right of self-determination of the people of Artsakh;
  • recognizing independence of the Republic of Artsakh. 

 

Regards, 

Fulbright Alumni and Students of Armenia 

 

Ani Hovhannisyan

Ani Papanyan

Armen Kazarian

Arpi Mazhinyan

Davit Janunts

Elvina Asatryan

Emma Ghazaryan

Gayane Grigoryan

Gayane Sargsyan

Grigor Chobanyan

Hayasa Tahmazyan

Haykaz Sedrak

Lesman Ghazaryan

Lusine Ghushchyan

Lusine Gigoyan

Lusine Khachatryan

Mariam Ayvazyan

Marina Khachatryan

Narine Hayrapetyan

Ruben Elamiryan

Ruben Hambardzumyan

Satenik Papyan

Shogher Mikaelyan

Shushanna Tevanyan

Tamara Ohanjanian

Tigran Margaryan

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