Washington, D.C. – Representative Frank Pallone, Jr (D-NJ) and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) spearheaded a bicameral letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken ahead of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in November, urging the Administration to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its human rights abuses, release all prisoners of war, and take measures to ensure Armenia’s territorial integrity, among other issues, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
The letter stated that as COP29 approaches, “we request that the State Department press Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the Government of Azerbaijan to take tangible measures that support regional peace, uphold human rights protections, and adhere to international laws and norms,” while pressing for the “immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, hostages, and POWs, including ethnic Armenians, to enable a more conducive environment for successful diplomacy at COP29.”
Further detailing Aliyev’s human rights injustices, the letter underscored Azerbaijan’s “deadly attack in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020, the 10-month blockade of the Lachin Corridor, and the September 2023 cleansing of ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh [that] blatantly violated international law and led to significant and continued human suffering.”
Despite “overwhelming evidence” and “international condemnation,” Azerbaijan has not been held accountable for committing mass atrocities – which were highlighted in the State Department’s most recent Human Rights Report – and has not faced any consequences. The letter urged the State Department to condemn Azerbaijan for its actions and to allow the Armenian people of Artsakh a safe and secure right to return, while calling for the U.S. to “use all opportunities presented during COP29 to promote a just, durable and dignified peace in the region—particularly in light of Azerbaijan’s recent refusal to sign a preliminary peace treaty with Armenia.”
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“Support for human rights, the promotion of regional security, and the preservation of Armenia’s sovereign integrity are crucial not only to uphold our own commitment to democratic ideals, but also to carry out an effective multilateral climate conference,” the letter continued.
The letter also emphasized the “pivotal platform” COP29 presents to advance energy security and economic resilience in the South Caucasus, “especially as countries such as Armenia seek to pivot away from Russian energy dependence,” and encouraged the Administration, alongside the U.S. Department of Energy, to “identify opportunities for greater U.S.-Armenia clean energy cooperation to reduce Armenian reliance on Russian energy.”
In conclusion, the letter stated that it’s “key to explore and enhance the clean energy partnership with Armenia, a democratic and strategic partner in a region facing increasing authoritarianism from its neighbors” as the nation “demonstrates a significant commitment to sustainable energy practices.”
The letter was cosigned by Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacklyn Rosen (D-NV), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Donald Beyer (D-VA), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Greg Casar (D-TX), Sean Casten (D-IL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Danny Davis (D-IL), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Daniel Goldman (D-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Daniel Kildee (D-MI), John Larson (D-CT), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Susie Lee (D-NV), Mike Levin (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), James McGovern (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Grace Meng (D-NY), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Scott Peters (D-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Bradley Schneider (D-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Thomas Suozzi (D-NY), Dina Titus (D-NV), Lori Trahan (D-MA), David Valadao (R-CA).
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 non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
