Pallone, Markey Lead Call for Blinken to Hold Azerbaijan Accountable Ahead of COP29

WASHINGTON, DC - As COP29 approaches, Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and 60 members of Congress are urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken to take decisive action against Azerbaijan's human rights violations before the global climate summit in November. In their letter to Blinken, the legislators emphasized that while COP29 presents an opportunity to strengthen clean energy cooperation in the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan's worsening human rights record cannot be ignored.

The letter highlights Azerbaijan's worsening human rights record, ongoing violations of international law, and its inflammatory rhetoric toward Armenia. "Despite overwhelming evidence and international condemnation, Azerbaijan has not faced meaningful consequences for the ethnic cleansing and other actions. Additionally, as of the end of 2023, Azerbaijan had detained several of Nagorno-Karabakh's political leaders and at least 23 prisoners of war; many others were unaccounted for or captured, some of whom were extrajudicially killed by Azerbaijani soldiers or law enforcement," the lawmakers wrote.

The legislators also emphasized the importance of regional cooperation on clean energy and urged the U.S. to deepen its partnership with Armenia to reduce reliance on Russian energy. "As the United States continues to deepen its bilateral relationship with Armenia, we ask the State Department, in consultation with the United States Department of Energy, to identify opportunities for greater U.S.-Armenia clean energy cooperation to reduce Armenian reliance on Russian energy…The Armenian government's proactive approach, exemplified by the approval of the Energy Saving and Renewable Energy Program for 2022-2030, demonstrates a significant commitment to sustainable energy practices, especially relating to increased solar energy development and the safe use of other zero-emission generation," the letter said.

Pallone, blacklisted by Azerbaijan for his unwavering support of the Armenian people, co-chairs the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issuesand introduced the Supporting Armenians Against Azerbaijani Aggressions Actlast year in the wake of Azerbaijan's ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. As a vocal critic of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Pallone visited the Nagorno-Karabakh region in 2017 with two other U.S. lawmakers, reaffirming his commitment to Armenian self-determination and international recognition of the region's right to independence-a move Azerbaijan condemned as a "provocation."

The full text of the letter is included below and linked here:

Dear Secretary Blinken,

As we approach the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), hosted by Azerbaijan in November, we recognize a significant opportunity for the United States to strengthen regional ties and clean energy cooperation in the South Caucasus. 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.

We urge the State Department to press 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. Azerbaijan's record on human rights remains deeply concerning, with no improvement noted by watchdogs. Human Rights Watch has consistently reported Azerbaijan's "appalling human rights record," with abuses escalating unabated through 2023.Freedom House ranks Azerbaijan with a "democracy percentage" of 1% and a "global freedom score" of 7 out of 100. The State Department's most recent Human Rights Report corroborates these findings, detailing unlawful killings, torture, and severe restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association. According to the Union for the Freedom for Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan, the increase in political prisoners, from 122 in December 2021 to at least 303 as of June 2024, underscores a worsening situation. Further, 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 blatantly violated international law and led to significant and continued human suffering. The sustained blockade violated a February 2023 order by the International Court of Justice requiring "unimpeded movement . . . along the Lachin Corridor." Despite overwhelming evidence and international condemnation, Azerbaijan has not faced meaningful consequences for the ethnic cleansing and other actions. Additionally, as of the end of 2023, Azerbaijan had detained several of Nagorno-Karabakh's political leaders and at least 23 prisoners of war; many others were unaccounted for or captured, some of whom were extrajudicially killed by Azerbaijani soldiers or law enforcement.

Azerbaijan must take immediate action to address its poor human rights track record ahead of COP29. Additionally, we urge the State Department to condemn Azerbaijan's harmful rhetoric criticizing Armenia's right to self-defense. Civilians who have been displaced should have the safe and secure right to return. Azerbaijan has made false and inflammatory allegations that Armenia is preparing for war against Azerbaijan. Such provocative statements run the risk of undermining peace negotiations and jeopardizing stability at a time when all eyes will be on the region. Additionally, the U.S. should 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. 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 backdrop of COP29 provides a pivotal platform to advance energy security and foster economic resilience in the South Caucasus, especially as countries such as Armenia seek to pivot away from Russian energy dependence. Armenia faces geographic and political challenges from being landlocked and blockaded by Turkey and Azerbaijan, significantly hindering its economic potential. The State Department could use this opportunity to facilitate discussions related to opening the border between Turkey and Armenia and encourage the acknowledgement and recognition of the Ottoman-era Armenian Genocide - as the United States did in 2021. These discussions could also provide a venue to address Armenia's security concerns related to Turkey's support for Azerbaijan's military aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh. These efforts will further COP29's underlying goals of enhancing regional energy security and economic cooperation, which can only be achieved through ensuring Armenia's sovereignty and security and securing a peace in the region that will uphold fundamental human rights. The Joint European Union-United States-Armenia High-Level Meeting on April 5, 2024 emphasized collaborative efforts to enhance economic and energy resilience, with the United States supporting Armenia's development of a transport strategy to boost regional trade and connectivity aligned with its "Crossroads of Peace" vision for sustainable peace. COP29 should serve as a platform to endorse and promote regional cooperation initiatives, thereby enhancing energy security and economic prosperity for Armenia and the broader region.

To that end, as the United States continues to deepen its bilateral relationship with Armenia, we ask the State Department, in consultation with the United States Department of Energy, to identify opportunities for greater U.S.-Armenia clean energy cooperation to reduce Armenian reliance on Russian energy. As the United States delegation prepares to participate in COP29, it is 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. The Armenian government's proactive approach, exemplified by the approval of the Energy Saving and Renewable Energy Program for 2022-2030, demonstrates a significant commitment to sustainable energy practices, especially relating to increased solar energy development and the safe use of other zero-emission generation.

The upcoming COP29 in Azerbaijan offers a unique opportunity to promote clean energy and regional cooperation, but it is critical for the United States to address the significant challenges posed by ongoing human rights violations and unresolved territorial conflicts in Azerbaijan. By taking these steps to address Azerbaijan's detention of political prisoners, hostages, and prisoners of war, as well as deescalate inflammatory accusations against Armenia, the State Department can help ensure that COP29 focuses on sustainable development and genuinely aids clean energy, climate, and economic progress in a region marked by complex diplomatic challenges and untapped potential.

Co-signers include Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacklyn Rosen (NV), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ron Wyden (OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Representatives Gabe Amo (RI-01), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Donald Beyer (VA-08), Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), Greg Casar (TX-35), Sean Casten (IL-06), Kathy Castor (FL-11), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Jim Costa (CA-21), Danny Davis (IL-07), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Anna Eshoo (CA-16), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Daniel Kildee (MI-08), John Larson (CT-01), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Susie Lee (NV-03), Mike Levin (CA-49), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), James McGovern (MA-02), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Grace Meng (NY-06), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Grace Napolitano (CA-31), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Scott Peters (CA-50), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), John Sarbanes (MD-03), Janice Schakowsky (IL-09), Adam Schiff (CA-30), Bradley Schneider (IL-10), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Thomas Suozzi (NY-03), Dina Titus (NV-01), Lori Trahan (MA-03), David Valadao (CA-22).

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