The Armenian National Committee of America congratulated former U.S. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard on her confirmation as Director of National Intelligence and called for a comprehensive investigation into the failures of U.S. intelligence, policy, and foreign assistance that contributed to Azerbaijan’s genocidal ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh. This was reported by the Armenian National Committee of the ARF Bureau.
“The Armenian National Committee of America welcomes Gabbard’s confirmation today and calls for ensuring that the United States fully assesses its role in Azerbaijan’s genocidal campaign against the Armenian population of Artsakh, whether through omissions or instructions that aided, abetted, or encouraged Azerbaijan,” noted Aram Hambaryan, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America.
In its congratulatory letter to Gabbard, the committee also emphasized the importance of a formal reassessment of intelligence policy to understand how U.S. policies, such as military assistance to Azerbaijan, contribute to its war crimes.
“As you know, Armenian-Americans in Hawaii and across the United States have long supported your efforts to prevent atrocities, address human rights, and address other issues of particular concern to our community and coalition partners. We deeply appreciate the U.S.’s support for the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide and, of course, the rights of Artsakh "For your support for the democratic aspirations of the indigenous Armenian Christians of (Nagorno-Karabakh)... We stand ready to support the investigation of the US omissions and commission failures that aided, abetted, or encouraged Azerbaijan to pursue its genocidal agenda against the peaceful Armenian civilian population of Artsakh."- specifically mentioned in the letter from the Armenian National Committee.
Gabbard’s consistency on Armenian issues has been unwavering. As a member of the US House of Representatives, she sponsored a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide and in 2017 traveled to Artsakh, where she personally witnessed the resilience of the local people in the face of Azerbaijani aggression. In 2020, she condemned Turkey’s role in instigating the war against Artsakh, stating: “Turkey is sending individuals affiliated with Al-Qaeda to exterminate the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh.”
The Armenian National Committee continues to call on the Trump administration to invoke Section 907 of the Freedom Assistance Act, which prohibits U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan, and to impose Magnitsky sanctions on Azerbaijani officials responsible for war crimes. The committee also calls on the U.S. government to pressure Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian prisoners of war and to establish an exception to the current freeze on foreign aid funding so that survivors of the Artsakh genocide can receive appropriate assistance.
