In 1915, New York publications drew attention to inhumane atrocities against Armenians. New York was a staunch supporter of Near East Relief (NER), the American-led campaign mobilizing all segments of American citizenry including elected officials, celebrities, and laypersons, to rescue victims of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey from 1915-1930.
More than 100 years after the Armenian Genocide that was described to me by my parents and grandparents family in my homeland describe missiles landing and a new mission of ethnic cleansing of Armenians by Azerbaijan’s and Turkey’s aggression. This is my plea for history not to repeat itself.
Armenia is reliving 1915.
On September 27th, Azerbaijan violated International Humanitarian Law, once again breaking the 1994 UN Ceasefire Agreement, launching a full-scale, premeditated attack on the Republic of Artsakh aka Nagorno-Karabakh using heavy artillery and aerial warfare. Turkey is providing military and political support to Azerbaijan while recruiting, funding, and transporting Islamic fundamentalist mercenaries from neighboring countries.
The Azerbaijani offensive is an attempt by Ilham Aliyev to stabilize his government by diverting attention away from domestic problems heightened by the economic decline caused by COVID-19 and a drop in oil prices. Despite international pressure for a cessation of hostilities, Azerbaijani forces have also launched direct attacks on the internationally recognized borders of the Republic of Armenia, targeting military and civilian infrastructure. Azerbaijani armed forces are targeting civilians with large-caliber weapons, mercilessly killing women and children. By deliberately targeting civilians and civilian objects, by using indiscriminate and prohibited methods and means of warfare, Azerbaijan has violated the rules of International Humanitarian Law.
Azerbaijan’s infamous advocate and genocidal big brother, Turkey is actively involved in the escalation of this conflict. Turkey, under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdogon is leading a proxy war to satisfy its imperial pan-Turkik aspiration and drive to dominate yet another region. Azerbaijan and Turkey are threatening regional stability and peace. The outbreak of a full-scale war in the South Caucasus could have serious consequences, involving Russia, Georgia, and Iran, thus spilling beyond the borders of the region and threatening international security. This is not only a war waged against Armenia and Artsakh, but a war against the entire civilized world. Totalitarian Azerbaijan is a threat to democracy everywhere. Azerbaijan and Turkey are assaulting the freedom, liberty, democracy, and the right to self-determination of the Armenian people.
The situation in Armenia is critical and needs your attention. We, the Armenia diaspora, are asking for your help again as we did in 1915, to provide coverage of these atrocities and shine light at what could be the next genocide. Despite a week of intense fighting, use of banned weapons, there has been little to no media coverage.
I urge you to contact your Senators and Congressmen to call attention to this growing trend of fascism from regimes responsible for war crimes and human rights violations. You can visit www.anca.org/alert if you’d like to submit a prepared letter and learn more about these war crimes.
Thank you for your time and attention,
Merri Martirosyan