Friday, October 30, 2020

L.A. County Supervisor Barger Meets With National Security Advisor, Arizona Center to Discuss Efforts to End Violence in Nagorno-Karabakh

U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Arizona, left, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, center, and National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, right, met for a discussion on ongoing violence Nagorno-Karabakh on Oct. 30, 2020. (Credit: Office of L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger)

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger took part in a roundtable discussion Friday with National Security Advisor and Pasadena resident Robert O’Brien, U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Arizona, and representatives of the Armenian community to outline the United States’ efforts to broker peace in Nagorno-Karabakh, where Azerbajani forces have been clashing with the Armenian population for weeks.

The discussion focused on “unprovoked military operations by Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh region against Armenians in the area,” according to a statement issued by Barger’s office. “This ongoing military offense has included attacks on civilian and residential structures, which killed approximately 40 innocent civilians including children and older adults and wounded more than 125 people, according to the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh.”

Los Angeles County is home to more Armenians than anyplace else in the world outside of Armenia, Barger said.

“We are deeply troubled by Azerbaijan’s refusal to honor three separate ceasefire agreements in recent weeks and the continued campaign to spread misinformation to deflect their egregious actions,” she said. “I am grateful to National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien and United States Senator Mike Lee for engaging with our grassroots organizations and faith leaders who have done a tremendous job raising awareness on this pressing issue for the Armenian community.”

O’Brien said the U.S. was “deeply concerned” about the continued violence in Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, “especially in light of reports of strikes in areas of significant civilian populations.”

“The President has called on both sides to fully observe their obligations under international humanitarian laws including the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure,” O’Brien said.

“Both sides must agree to a ceasefire and they must come to the negotiating table without preconditions,” he continued. “This is particularly true of the Azerbaijanis who have been the most hesitant about an unconditional ceasefire to date.”

Video footage of Friday’s comments by Barger, O’Brien and Lee can be viewed online at facebook.com/supervisorbarger/posts/2981467132101572