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Assembly Reiterates Concerns Over Azerbaijan's Increased War-Rhetori

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  • Assembly Reiterates Concerns Over Azerbaijan's Increased War-Rhetori

    ASSEMBLY REITERATES CONCERNS OVER AZERBAIJAN'S INCREASED WAR-RHETORIC

    August 8, 2013 - 10:16 AMT

    PanARMENIAN.Net - Upon the appointment of Ambassador James Warlick
    to serve as the next U.S. Co-Chair of the Organization for Security
    & Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group for the Nagorno Karabakh
    peace process, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) reiterates
    its concerns with respect to Azerbaijan's increased war-rhetoric,
    ongoing militarization and continued ceasefire violations.

    "The Armenian Assembly hopes Ambassador Warlick and his OSCE Co-Chair
    counterparts will reintegrate the democratically elected government
    of Nagorno Karabakh into the peace negotiations. Only with their
    participation and the support of the citizens of Karabakh, who
    valiantly defended their homeland, can a lasting peace be achieved,"
    said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.

    Secretary of State John Kerry expressed his confidence in Ambassador
    Warlick, calling him a "first-rate diplomat," when he announced the
    appointment. Secretary Kerry also reiterated that the "United States
    remains firmly committed to helping the sides reach a lasting and
    peaceful settlement to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict."

    In 1991, Azerbaijan launched a war against the Armenian people of
    Nagorno Karabakh. A Russian brokered cease-fire agreement was signed
    in 1994 ending the hostilities; however, no peace agreement was ever
    realized. For almost 20 years, the OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by the
    United States, Russia and France, has sought a peaceful resolution to
    the conflict. In recent years, cease-fire violations along the line of
    contact have increased exponentially. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan has begun
    stockpiling massive offensive military armaments to the tune of over
    $6 billion dollars between Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012. Last month,
    it was reported that Azerbaijan begun receiving another $1 billion
    dollar arms package from Russia, whereas the United States Congress
    is in the process of providing an additional $3.3 million dollars to
    Azerbaijan's military. The Armenian Assembly raised these concerns,
    among others, in testimony submitted last month to the Commission on
    Security & Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) briefing
    entitled "Troubled Partner: Growing Authoritarianism in Azerbaijan."

    Warlick recently served as Deputy Special Representative for
    Afghanistan and Pakistan and lead negotiator for the Bilateral Security
    Agreement with Afghanistan. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria
    from 2009-2012, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in
    the Bureau of International Organization Affairs from 2006 to 2009,
    and Director of the Office of European Security and Political Affairs
    from 2005 to 2006.

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