(PatrioticPost.com)- On Sunday, the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the United States, Nancy Pelosi, gave a speech in Armenia to show solidarity for the country in the wake of tragic conflicts with the neighboring country of Azerbaijan.
Pelosi issued a vehement condemnation of what she called “illegal and murderous strikes by Azerbaijan” during a press conference. She also stated that the violence “threatens hopes for a much-needed peace agreement.” She noted that the United States is keeping a close eye on the issue and continuing to back a negotiated settlement.
This week, fighting broke out between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh territory, which has been the source of tension between the two countries for decades. The battle is the most significant escalation of the conflict since 2020 when the two countries fought a war over the land that resulted in the deaths of thousands of people. Each nation holds the other responsible for the escalation of hostilities, which led to the truce that went into force on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan issued a statement on Sunday in which it referred to Pelosi’s statement as “very unfortunate” and “unfair,” and it stated that it is “a major blow to attempts to improve relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.”
Pelosi’s office announced that she would lead a congressional delegation to Armenia on Saturday. The purpose of the trip is to emphasize the United States’ commitment to Armenia’s security, democratic governance, and economic success. According to the statement, Pelosi is the highest-ranking politician from the United States of America to visit Armenia since the country gained its independence in 1991.
The massacre of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of Ottoman Empire forces in the early 20th century and classifying it as genocide was formally acknowledged by President Joe Biden in the previous year. The historic proclamation made by Biden marks a significant departure from previous administrations in the United States, which shied away from labeling the killings as genocide out of fear of upsetting Turkey.
During her trip, Pelosi visited the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial. While there, she laid a wreath at the memorial and tweeted the following message: “Congress is committed to always honoring our collective responsibility to uphold the memory of the dead, affirm the history of this tragedy, and ensure such a horror can never again happen.”
