WASHINGTON — Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) issued the following statement on the recent escalation in violence along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border:
“We are deeply concerned about the reports of violence along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Azerbaijan, with Turkey’s support, has chosen a path of violence instead of the peaceful, negotiated process spearheaded by the OSCE Minsk Group. We urge a stop to the fighting and immediate resumption of peace talks.
“Baku’s recent actions have only exacerbated violence and hindered efforts to reach lasting stability and peaceful end to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, forcing us to once again raise serious questions about our current levels of military assistance to the Government of Azerbaijan. Providing nearly $120 million in security assistance to a regime that flouts a peace process co-chaired by the U.S. is absurd. We call on the Trump administration to immediately halt this assistance and fully respect Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act.”
In a June 3, 2020 letter, Ranking Member Menendez requested the Government Accountability Office (GAO) formally open a review of the provision of assistance to the Government of Azerbaijan due to Congress’ limited understanding of its scope, nature, and impact.
1 comment
Shame on Trump for not officially recognising the Armenian genocide and shame on him for letting Azeri attack Armenian villages and not a word of contempt for their evil deeds, Thank you Menendez very much. Erdegan is thirsty for Armenian blood. He is after causing trouble to Armenians in the M.E and our motherland. I pray to God to deal with Azerbaijan and Turkey.