Congressional Caucus Co-Chairs, Reps. Sherman and Malliotakis lead efforts to sanction Azerbaijan
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and David Valadao (R-CA) were joined by Representatives Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) in introducing a series of amendments to the Fiscal Year 2024 U.S. House Defense Appropriations Bill (H.R. 4365) to block U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan, in the face of President Aliyev’s 260-plus day genocidal blockade of Artsakh, reported the Armenian National Committee of America, Armradio reports.
“The Biden-Harris Administration’s failure of leadership on Azerbaijan’s genocidal blockade of Artsakh underscores the urgent need for strong Congressional leadership and strict legislative oversight,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We welcome each of these amendments – those in defense of Artsakh and also banning cluster bombs – and are working alongside a broad array of Congressional allies and coalition partners to see them enacted into law.”
The ANCA is urging U.S. Representatives to cosponsor and support passage of four pro-Artsakh amendments, including:
- Amendment 258 (presented by Rep. Sherman) – Preventing the use of funds to provide military assistance to Azerbaijan.
- Amendment 263 (presented by Rep. Sherman) – Preventing the use of funds to provide military assistance to Azerbaijan for use against Armenia or Nagorno Karabakh (also known as Artsakh)
- Amendment 272 (Led by Representatives Pallone, Bilirakis, Valadao, Schiff & Malliotakis) – Prohibiting military aid and security assistance to the defense, security, and border forces of the Government of Azerbaijan.
- Amendment 285 (Led by Representatives Pallone, Schiff & Malliotakis) – Allocating $1 million to support Department of Defense activities and partnerships that will help peacefully resolve the illegal Azeri blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh and allow for the unimpeded movement of essential humanitarian assistance, including food and medication, and commercial activities through the Lachin Corridor.
The ANCA is also recommending support for two amendments that would prohibit the acquisition, use, transfer and sale of cluster munitions, citing the devastating consequences of Azerbaijan’s use of these weapons during the 2020 Artsakh war. These amendments are:
- Amendment 59 (Led by Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) and Sarah Jacobs (D-CA)– Prohibiting funding for the acquisition, use, transfer, or sale of cluster munitions.
- Amendment 131 (Led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Sarah Jacobs (D-CA) – Prohibiting funds made available by the bill from being used to transfer cluster munitions.
The amendments are currently under review by the House Rules Committee, which will determine their consideration by U.S. Representatives upon their return to session in mid-Septem
Related news
UN Security Council to vote on new Gaza ceasefire resolution
Prolonged negotiations have led the UN Security Council to postpone to Tuesday a vote on a resolution that had sought a new ceasefire in Gaza, diplomatic sources said, IP reports.
In 2 years we will have a fully protected Tbilisi sky: Juansher Burchuladze
According to the Minister of Defense of Georgia, Juansher Burchuladze, in 2023, the Ministry of Defense signed important purchases in terms of strengthening the defense capability, which is responsible for the medium-term and long-term development of the Defense Forces, Interpressnews reports.
We support sincere efforts to establish peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan: Minister of Defense of Turkey
On December 16, Minister of National Defense of Turkey Yaşar Güler held a year-end closing meeting with media representatives and answered their questions, 1lurer reports.
Rational use of historical opportunity will allow us to achieve long-awaited peace: Ali Asadov
Azerbaijan is determined to continue its efforts to strengthen peace and security in the region, Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov said at the meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government in Moscow, Azerbaijani media reports.
New objectives of Turkey and Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus
The last three years have brought significant changes in the geopolitics of the South Caucasus. The most important of them was the destruction of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan. At the same time, the positions of external actors have strengthened, which occurred synchronously with Azerbaijan's attempts to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem by force, APRI Armenia Research Fellow Sergei Melkonian says, IRNA reports.
Azerbaijan determined to advance the normalization and peace process with Armenia - Bayramov
Azerbaijan is determined to advance the normalization and peace process with Armenia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov, stated this during his speech at the 47th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, which took place in a video conference format, the Azerbaijani media reports, ARMENPRESS reports.
