Washington, DC - The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) commends Armenia's President Serzh Sargsyan for his diplomatic efforts to secure a peaceful and just resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. While no final agreement was reached on the Basic Principles being negotiated, the Assembly notes that the sides did reach, according to reports, a "mutual understanding on a number of issues whose resolution would contribute to the creation of conditions for the approval of the basic principles." We also take note of U.S. President Barack Obama's phone call to President Sargsyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in advance of the Kazan summit in which "President Obama told both leaders that now is the time to resolve this conflict and to offer the people of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Nagorno-Karabakh a better future for themselves and for their children." We also extend our appreciation to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her support of efforts to secure a lasting peace in the region. It is regrettable that it appears once again Azerbaijan is not ready for peace. Armenia has consistently demonstrated its willingness to resolve all outstanding issues with its neighbors, while Azerbaijan, instead, has rapidly expanded its military budget and escalated tensions by repeatedly threatening the resumption of military action. It is also regrettable that America's commitment to peace and reconciliation continues to be undermined by Azerbaijan's intransigence. The Assembly recalls Azerbaijan's interference with and opposition to the Protocols between Turkey and Armenia, which were brokered by the Swiss government with the full support of France, Russia, the European Union, and the United States. Ironically, after signing the Protocols, Turkey, under pressure from Azerbaijan, insisted that a resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict must be reached prior to Turkish ratification of the Protocols, effectively holding Armenia hostage to Turkey's ongoing blockade. Given the outcome of the June 24 meeting in Kazan, as well as the stalled process with respect to the Protocols, the Assembly strongly believes that the United States would have more credibility and be able to achieve more progress in the peace talks and in Turkey-Armenia rapprochement, if the United States unequivocally affirmed the Armenian Genocide, like its OSCE counterparts, France and Russia. U.S. affirmation of this crime against humanity as so indicated by the United States in its 1951 filing before the International Court of Justice is long past due. In addition, the time has also come to directly include Nagorno Karabakh in the negotiations. Any resolution to the conflict as mediated by the OSCE Co-Chairs must be acceptable to the people of Nagorno Karabakh, and must take into account its right to self-determination. Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

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