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Washington, D.C. - Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), David Valadao (R-CA), and Brad Sherman (D-CA), addressed a letter to newly appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio on priorities relating to Armenia and the Armenian people, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
Primarily, the letter urged the U.S. to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its war crimes and ethnic-cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh by enforcing Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, applying Global Magnitsky sanctions, and denying EXIM Bank financing of dual-use sales to Azerbaijan, emphasizing that "a durable and dignified peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan requires strict accountability and must be founded upon the collected and protected return of Armenians to their indigenous Nagorno-Karabakh homeland."
Caucus Members urged the State Department to remain engaged in the peace process, help secure Armenia's territorial integrity, end the blockade by Turkey and Azerbaijan, and facilitate better regional trade and transportation links, as well as a "final agreement [that] must secure the release of all POWs and hostages, including Nagorno-Karabakh’s political leaders – who are unjustly detained in Azerbaijan – and safeguard ancient Armenian cultural sites in Nagorno-Karabakh and elsewhere in the region that are under immediate threat."
Highlighting the geographic and political challenges Armenia faces as a landlocked country blockaded by Turkey and Azerbaijan, the letter noted that these have served as obstacles for Armenia to fulfill its economic potential.
"The United States has an incredible opportunity to shape the future of the region by advancing Armenia’s energy security and economic resilience aligned with its "Crossroads of Peace" vision for sustainable peace," the letter stated. "Investing in this transition will allow Armenia to fulfill its goal of diversifying its energy production and pivoting away from Russian energy and trade dependence."
Referring to Armenia's security, the letter requested that the State Department build on defense engagements with Armenia, develop Armenia's border security capabilities, and "consider the Armenian government's outstanding request for purely defensive equipment and training to protect its territorial integrity, including anti-aircraft and anti-drone equipment and the ability to guard its borders, which is "critical at a time when it faces continued threats by Azerbaijani troops stationed in its sovereign territory and violent rhetoric from President Ilham Aliyev."
Other issues of concern in the letter included the challenges facing the Armenian community in Syria as well as the Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem, "a treasure of global Christian heritage in the Holy Land since the 4th Century."
Caucus Members offered congratulations to Secretary Rubio on his new role and expressed hope for collaboration during the 119th Congress regarding bipartisan priorities relating to Armenia, particularly building off of the strategic partnership between Armenia and the U.S. signed on January 15, 2025, an agreement that "reflects the efforts made by a broad bipartisan coalition of Members of Congress who have cultivated this important bilateral relationship across several Administrations," and the "promise Armenia shows as a reliable American partner in the South Caucasus."
The letter to Secretary Rubio concluded: "We stand ready to work with you to craft a policy in the South Caucasus region that is consistent with U.S. national security, universal principles of human rights, and our democratic values."
"The Assembly appreciates the Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs and Members who have prioritized efforts to support Armenians after Azerbaijan's ethnic cleansing of Armenians from Artsakh," said Assembly Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan. "We look forward to continuing our positive working relationship with Secretary Rubio to help advance the priorities emphasized by the Armenian Caucus and ensure meaningful action to support the Armenian people."
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 strictly non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
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NR# 2025-05
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