US lawmakers call to restrict military assistance to Azerbaijan

The US lawmakers Frank Pallone and Mark Kirk have condemned the recent violations of ceasefire and attacks by the armed forces of Azerbaijan on Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) denounced Azerbaijan’s latest violation of its ceasefire accord with Nagorno Karabakh, which left two dead and several wounded, the Armenian National Committee of America reported.

“These provocations by the armed forces of Azerbaijan can not be allowed to continue and I condemn them in the strongest terms,” said Frank Pallone in a statement.

“I have long been advocating for restricting military aid to Azerbaijan and their recent actions only confirm why the U.S. can not allow our resources be used to provoke regional instability.” Mark Kirk concurred noting, that “Azerbaijan’s increasingly aggressive behavior in the region must not go unnoticed by the international community and U.S. policymakers.” He said: “As Baku escalates tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh, I strongly urge Secretary Clinton to support additional restrictions on military assistance to Azerbaijan.”

For his part, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America, Aram Hamparian said that regime of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliev takes advantage that the White House isn’t condemning the situation and so continues violations of the negotiations. “Obama Administration’s failure to clearly condemn Azerbaijan’s attacks and threats of war against Nagorno Karabakh have only emboldened the Aliyev regime to escalate cease fire violations and further jeopardize peace negotiations,” he said.