April 15, 2024
(Los Angeles)—The Armenian Genocide Committee (AGC), a broad-based coalition of the leading religious, political, youth, charitable, athletic and social organizations of the Armenian community of Southern California, has announced a community wide public event on April 24, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. at the Parcher Plaza Glendale City Hall (613 E. Broadway, Glendale, CA), and a 1-hour special online program on April 24, 2024 at 7 p.m. Community members and Armenians from around the globe can tune into the online program through AGC’s website (www.agc1915.org) and the social media platforms of AGC member organizations.
This year’s commemoration comes on the heels of the 280 plus day long genocidal blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan between December 12, 2022 and September 19, 2023, and the subsequent ethnic cleansing of Armenians from their ancestral lands.
On April 15, 2024, the Armenian Genocide Committee (AGC) sent a letter to President Biden condemning US inaction during the genocidal blockade of Artsakh, and the Biden Administration’s failure to prevent the ethnic cleansing of Armenians from their ancestral lands in Artsakh.
AGC demands the following from the Biden Administration:
- Establish a UN Security Council led international protectorate that secures the lives of the 150,000 Artsakh Armenians and ensures their right of return to their ancestral lands of Hadrut, Shushi, Stepanakert, Martuni, Martakert, Askeran and Qashatagh in Artsakh;
- Address the educational, healthcare, economic, and housing needs of the 150,000 Artsakh refugees who have been periodically and forcibly displaced by Azerbaijan and have found refuge in the Republic of Armenia by delivering $750 million in US Government humanitarian assistance;
- Immediately halt all U.S. military and economic assistance to Azerbaijan, consistent with Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act;
- Sanction members of the Aliyev regime under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act for ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated by that regime;
- Facilitate the release of all Armenian POWs, detainees, and hostages including, the 8 Artsakh officials who were abducted following Azerbaijan’s September 19, 2023 military assault against Artsakh;
- Restore the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia by facilitating the removal of all Azeri forces from areas occupied during Azerbaijan’s continuous invasions into Armenia since May 2021.
Other AGC endorsed events in Southern California include:
- GNAZ BLOOD DRIVE with American Red Cross on April 21 between 9:00am and 3:00pm PST at the Armenian Church of the Nazarene (411 E Acacia Ave., Glendale, CA);
- City of Glendale Commemoration on April 21 at 4:00pm PST at the Alex Theatre (216 N Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA);
- UACLA Religious Ceremony & Placement of Flowers on April 24 at 10:00am PST at the Montebello Armenian Genocide Monument (901 Via San Clemente, Montebello, CA);
- AYF Demonstration on April 24 at 12:00pm PST at the Turkish Consulate General in Los Angeles (8500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA).
Armenian Genocide Committee members: Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Catholic Church of North America, Armenian Evangelical Union of North America, Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, Social Democrat Hunchakian Party, Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian Relief Society – Western USA, Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region, Armenian Council of America, Homenetmen Western U.S, Homenmen Athletic Association USA Region, Armenian Youth Federation, Gaidz Youth Organization, Armenian Bar Association, Organization of Istanbul Armenians.
April 15, 2024
Joseph R. Biden
President
The United States of America
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Biden:
This April 24th will mark the 109th anniversary of the 1915-
1923 Armenian Genocide–a solemn day of commemoration and
reflection for Armenian Americans as we honor the memory of
the 1.5 million victims of the horrific atrocities perpetrated by
Ottoman and Kemalist Turkey, as well as the thousands of
Armenians massacred in Shushi, Baku, Ghaibalishen, Jamilli,
Karkijahan, and Pahlul between 1918 and 1920.
Mr. President—prior to your recognition of the Armenian
Genocide on April 24, 2021, for decades, Armenian Americans
pursued the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the US
Government not only to secure US affirmation of the historical
record of the events of 1915-1923 but to ensure the global
prevention of future genocides against all national, ethnic, racial
or religious groups around the world.
Between December 12, 2022 and September 19, 2023, the
Armenians of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) endured a genocidal
siege by the Azeri government, which cut off power, food, and
fuel supplies to120,000 Armenians—including 30,000 children
and 20,000 elderly. Despite two orders issued by the International Court of Justice (Presided by
Joan E. Donoghue from the United States at the time) and expert opinion reports and testimonies
by Luis Moreno Ocampo, the former International Criminal Court Prosecutor, the UN Security
Council led by the United States, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom failed to adopt
a resolution condemning Azerbaijan’s genocidal blockade.
Emboldened by the environment of impunity shaped by the constant failure of the UN Security
Council, Illham Aliyev’s genocidal regime launched a military attack against the Armenians of
Artsakh, on September 19, 2023, which resulted in the death of hundreds in the span of 24 hours
and the complete ethnic cleansing of Artsakh. Your administration’s failure to end the 280 plus
day long genocidal blockade and the complete ethnic cleansing of Artsakh was especially
evident, as Aliyev’s military assault had come only five days after Ambassador Yuri Kim,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasian Affairs (EUR), had stated
“The United State will not tolerate any effort [by Azerbaijan] to ethnically cleanse the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh” during her testimony in front of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on September 14, 2023.
Proper recognition of the Armenian Genocide honors the memory and dignity of its victims and
survivors, and – more broadly – rejects the use of human rights as a bargaining chip.
With persistent attempts to undermine U.S. interests in the South Caucasus region, including by
signing a strategic alliance agreement with Russia two days prior to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine
in February 2022, and abet unceasing Azerbaijani aggression that undermines the security of
Armenia and peace in the South Caucasus region, we demand that you exercise your authority as
the leader of the free world to:
- Establish a UN Security Council led international protectorate that secures the lives of the
150,000 Artsakh Armenians and ensures their right of return to their ancestral lands of
Hadrut, Shushi, Stepanakert, Martuni, Martakert, Askeran and Qashatagh in Artsakh; - Address the educational, healthcare, economic, and housing needs of the 150,000 Artsakh
refugees who have been periodically and forcibly displaced by Azerbaijan and have
found refuge in the Republic of Armenia by delivering $750 million in US Government
humanitarian assistance; - Immediately halt all U.S. military and economic assistance to Azerbaijan, consistent with
Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act; - Sanction members of the Aliyev regime under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights
Accountability Act for ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated by
that regime; - Facilitate the release of all Armenian POWs, detainees, and hostages including, the 8
Artsakh officials who were abducted following Azerbaijan’s September 19, 2023 military
assault against Artsakh;
Restore the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia by facilitating
the removal of all Azeri forces from areas occupied during Azerbaijan’s continuous
invasions into Armenia since May 2021.
With the 2024 US Presidential Elections seven months away, the Armenian American
community expects that you adhere to the sacred vow of ‘Never Again’ instilled in you and your
siblings by your father, Mr. President! To ensure ‘Never Again’ is not a mere slogan uttered by a
politician, we hope that you will do a fundamental reset in U.S. policy toward the South
Caucasus region – one that prioritizes the security of the Republic of Armenia and the protection
of human and humanitarian rights of Artsakh Armenians.
Sincerely,
Armenian Genocide Committee
CC: Mr. Antony J. Blinken
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
