WASHINGTON—Greater Washington area Armenian-Americans honored the memory of the victims of Azerbaijani aggression, during a grassroots protest in support of the right to self-determination of the people of Karabakh held on February 25.
The demonstration, organized by the Greater Washington Armenian Youth Federation “Ani” Chapter and the St. Mary’s Armenian Church Youth Organization (ACYO), coincided with the 23rd anniversary of the Azerbaijani pogroms against the Armenian population of Sumgait, which set the stage for attacks in Baku in 1990 and a cycle of anti-Armenian violence that continues to this day. The demonstrators also called special attention to Azerbaijan’s destruction of the 1300 year old Armenian cemetery in Djulfa, Nakhichevan, demolishing thousands of intricately carved cross-stones (Khatchkars). A similar protest was organized in Ottawa, Canada earlier this week with more are scheduled in capitols around the world during upcoming days.
“We have joined together today to call attention to the Sumgait and Baku massacres in the hopes of preventing future such atrocities,” said ACYO member Samvel Hayrapetyan. “Our message is clear – oil revenue does not trump Karabakh’s right to self-determination. Armenians worldwide are united in the defense of the fundamental rights of the people of Artsakh.”
Azerbaijani violence against neighboring Nagorno Karabakh reached an all-time high last year since the 1994 cease fire, with over 30 killed along the line of contact. The Aliyev regime’s threats of war continue, as the country’s defense budget soars to over $3 billion a year.
“Despite international mediation efforts, President Aliyev continues his calls for a military solution to the Karabakh conflict, threatening prospects for peace in the region,” said AYF Ani Chapter Chairman Arpa Vartanian. “Since 1991, the Nagorno Karabagh Republic has worked tirelessly to build a democratic and peaceful society, in the shadow of Azerbaijan’s aggression. The Sumgait and Baku massacres remind us all that a return to Azerbaijan’s dictatorial regime is simply impossible.”
Photos from the protest can be viewed on the AYF Eastern Region and ANCA and AYF Facebook pages.
The Azeri constant breeches of the borders, killing Armenians stationed against the Azeri stance obviously indicates the mindset of the Azeri leadership.. lying to themselves by not recognizing that they Azeris, themselves, had lost the war which they propagated against Artsakh (NK).
Too, the Azeri destruction of the 1300 year old site , the Armenian cemetery of the khatchkars (stone crosses) again obviously indicates the Azeris have not any sense of world history which recognizes that the antiquity of such sites are not to be destroyed – as these were relics from ancient civilized peoples become as a ‘gifts’ to peoples of the world of today. Azeri thinking to eliminate such relics is the same mentality as the Turks in pursuit of their efforts to eliminate all signs of the ancient and advanced peoples who, historically, owned the lands today coveted and stolen by the Azeris and the Turks – who have not any history of their own – except what they can steal and conquer via Genocides. Manooshag
Manooshag ,very correct… one day the truth will win .There isno other way. We have to win.