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Community Information Service
April 12, 2016 / No:939

ATAA Condemns Armenia's Aggression against Azerbaijan

On April 2, 2016, Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia attacked Azerbaijani positions along the line of contact in the Armenian-occupied Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. In this most egregious violation of ceasefire regime that was largely observed since May 1994, the occupying Armenian forces subjected peaceful Azerbaijani settlements within the proximity of the front line to a relentless mortar fire. In response, Azerbaijani Army units not just stopped, but also pushed back the aggressor, taking control of several Karabakh settlements and strategic heights previously occupied by the Armenian forces. 37 Azerbaijani and over 300 Armenian servicemen were killed in the clashes before Azerbaijan announced a unilateral ceasefire on April 5, 2016. 
 
Turkish Americans are deeply disturbed by the recent violence instigated by the Republic of Armenia in Nagorno Karabakh and other regions of Azerbaijan. It is not incidental that this Armenian attack started right after the statement made by Secretary of State John Kerry on March 30, 2016 unequivocally reaffirming the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within its recognized borders. Thus, having failed all attempts to justify its illegal occupation and ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijani lands, the Armenian establishment had once more resorted to aggression and violence costing lives of innocent people.
 
The U.N. Security Council adopted four resolutions 822, 853, 874, 884 calling for immediate withdrawal of Armenian forces, allowing the return of Azerbaijani refugees. Armenia is yet to comply.
 
The ATAA calls upon the United States and international community to hold Armenian leaders accountable for these crimes, to demand an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all occupying Armenian forces, in compliance with the relevant U.N. Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, allowing for the return of nearly 1 million Azerbaijani refugees to their homes. 

ATAA, representing over 60 local chapters and 500,000 Turkish Americans throughout the United States, serves locally and in Washington DC to empower the Turkish American community through civic engagement, and to support strong US-Turkish relations through education and advocacy.  Established in 1979, ATAA is the largest, democratically elected Turkish American membership organization in the United States.  As a non-faith based organization, ATAA is open to people of diverse backgrounds.  The ATAA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed under the laws of the District of Columbia. To learn more about ATAA, please visit www.ataa.org.
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