The Ranking Democrat on Foreign Affairs Committee urges Clinton to End US Arms Sales to Azerbaijan
VALLEY VILLAGE, Calif.—Rep. Rep. Howard L. Berman, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, wrote Secretary of State Clinton today and called for Azerbaijan’s suspension from the NATO Partnership for Peace Program and ending arms sales to Azerbaijan. Berman wrote the letter following the recent pardoning of Azerbaijani axe-murderer Ramil Safarov and his promotion to the rank of major in the Azerbaijani military.
Berman is facing a re-election campaign this year against Rep. Brad Sherman. The two will face off at a debate on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Ferrahian High School’s Avetissian Hall. The debate is organized by the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region.
The letter follows:
Dear Madam Secretary,
The recent pardoning by President Aliyev of the Azerbaijani axe-murderer Ramil Safarov — and his promotion to the rank of major in the Azerbaijani military — was indeed appalling. Aliyev’s action makes a mockery of justice and shows contempt for NATO and its members, as well as for NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) program and all states that participate in it. The State Department appropriately issued a strong condemnation of Azerbaijan’s pardon. In my view, however, the abhorrent nature of this pardon, as well as the gruesome nature of the original crime and the context in which it occurred, demands something more. It demands a strong and meaningful response.
Accordingly, in light of the fact that this unprovoked and horrific murder occurred at a PfP event, I urge you to arrange for a joint protest to President Aiyev by all members of NATO. Second, I urge that NATO suspend Azerbaijan from all participation in PfP events unless and until Aliyev rescinds the pardon and promotion and re-incarcerates the killer, or returns him to Hungary, to serve the remainder of his life sentence. Further, I strongly encourage you immediately to halt all military assistance and arms transfers to Azerbaijan. President Aliyev’s action, in its callous disregard for Armenian life, obliterates any near-term hopes for building trust between Armenia and Azerbaijan. It thus undermines attempts to foster peace in the volatile Caucasus region. It likewise serves to remind us that a peaceful resolution regarding Nagorno Karabakh must provide adequate security safeguards against Azerbaijani aggression.
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
U.S. Congressman Howard L. Berman
Editor’s Note: Berman is facing a re-election campaign this year against Rep. Brad Sherman. The two will face off at a debate hosted by the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region. on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Ferrahian High School’s Avetissian Hall.
We should encourage everyone to write and express our deepest gratitude to senator Boxer and Rep. Berman for their support in this disturbing and unsettling matter!
It is time Mrs. Clinton start doing things right. Without rule of law the world will become a jungle, US can’t continue sacrificing Values for OIL and OIL money, The world is watching and the message that sends to the Int’l comunity affects directly to the American interest in the world
There isn’t much you should expect from Hillary. She cares nothing for values and rule of law.
this guy should run as president of armenia. sargsyan youre a disgrace.
Turkey and Israel (and maybe Hungary) should be pressured by the US govt. not to sell arms to the Aliev regime in the artificial cartoon republic of azer-bazarbaijan! Just preventing the US arms’ from being shipped to Baku won’t
help!!!
US should send state of the art Military Aircrafts and Economic and Technical Aid both to Armenia and Artsakh to ward off azeri coward aggressions ! The best way to defend the Motherland is to have the readiness and
the capability to attack the enemy before any attempt by the latter to attack us !!!
I don’t know how far the US will go in its protest… I have my doubts.
Unfortunately Israel might continue selling weapons to Azerbaijan. Armenian blood has no value for them.
By not excluding Azerbaijan from the PfP NATO has made itself a partner in crime.
The US and its proxy war machine NATO are responsible for more deaths of innocent people than any other terrorist organization in the world. How anyone in their right mind can think that the US and NATO are supporters of truth, justice and peace is completely beyond me.
Grow up people, then get a clue.
Silly Armenians are at it again. A Washingtonian reptile blows smoke up our collective butts and our peasantry gets all excited. This BS shouldn’t even be worthy to be called news…
Berman has my vote!!!