SYDNEY: Over the last three days, Azerbaijan's heavy-armoured attacks towards the civilian Armenian population of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh have escalated to the highest levels since the 1994 ceasefire, resulting in deaths of many including an 11-year-old child in Martuni.
The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) asks that you help #STOPALIYEV by signing your name to the petition below.
It is a letter addressed to Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, requesting the Australian government:
SCROLL BELOW AND SIGN YOUR NAME TO THIS E-PETITION TO JOIN OUR DEMAND
This letter, with your signatures, will be sent to the PM's office.
ADD YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW
(email addresses will not be broadcast)
--------------------------------------------------------
The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP
Prime Minister
Member for Wentworth
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Dear Prime Minister,
In the early hours of 2 April 2016, Azerbaijan unleashed clearly pre-planned and co-ordinated attacks along the whole of the cease-fire line of the Nagorno-Karabakh-Azerbaijan border which is unprecedented since the 1994 cease-fire signed by the parties to the conflict, the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Republic of Azerbaijan.
In a short period of time the casualties have increased to tens if not hundreds and there is a dramatic escalation in the military hardware being used by the conflicting sides.
As many international analyst, such as STRATFOR, have observed this latest and most serious cease-fire violation by Azerbaijan is a deliberate attempt to distract its local population from its serious economic and political problems given the crash of oil prices, significant devaluation of the Azeri currency and its increasing suppression and imprisonment of democratic and opposition forces in Azerbaijan.
The current dangerous escalation of the conflict by Azerbaijan is unfortunately largely attributable to the continuing “neutral” and equivocal responses by the international community to the numerous prior (relatively minor) ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan, which it has been allowed to continue to commit with impunity, Azerbaijan has in last 12 months publically mocked and attacked the international mechanism mandated to assist in reaching a negotiated peaceful resolution of the Karabakh – Azerbaijan Conflict – the OSCE Minsk Group – led by the Co-Chairs of the United States of America, France and Russia.
The past, and now most recent and serious, cease-fire violations by Azerbaijan, which threatens the peace and stability of this important and volatile region, is yet again a deliberate attempt by Azerbaijan to undermine and change the format of the OSCE Minsk Group peace process, which does not meet its interests. Azerbaijan’s overt and covert actions are in complete contempt and disregard of the international peace process of this conflict and it must be held to account in no uncertain terms.
We therefore call on our Government to take the following urgent steps:
a) unequivocally to condemn the GRAD Missile attacks by the Azerbaijani Army on the civilian population of Karabakh, in particular, the school in the Martuni region of Karabakh resulting in the death of one 12 year old boy (Vaghinag Grigoryan) and the serious injury of two other children;
b) unequivocally to condemn this unprecedented violation of the cease fire and peace in the region in particular the targeting of civilians by Azerbaijan as
evidence by the above-mentioned attack;
c) to call on the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs immediately to investigate the cause of this massive and unprecedented cease-fire violation which has clearly been planned and co-ordinated in advance by Azerbaijan;
d) to call on Azerbaijan to immediately agree to the unhindered installation of the mechanism to monitor and investigate cease fire violations as proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, the United States of America, France and Russia in November 2015, which has been agreed to by the other conflicting parties, the Republic of Nagorno-Karabagh and the Republic of Armenia, but not the Republic of Azerbaijan. This very mechanism would have deterred if not prevented the current very serious escalation.
Yours sincerely,
All Signatories Below
