By Mark Dovich
Speaking alongside a small congressional delegation on a historic visit to Armenia, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday the United States “strongly condemns” the “illegal and deadly attacks by Azerbaijan on Armenian territory” and the “assault on the sovereignty (and) border of Armenia.”
“As you saw, the immediate response from the United States was to stop the violence and to have a ceasefire,” Pelosi said at a press briefing. “We, our delegation, have been very outspoken in saying that this was initiated by the Azeris and that there has to be recognition of that.”
Armenian government officials have suggested Washington played a key role in brokering the ceasefire that came into effect Wednesday after Azerbaijan launched a major attack on Armenia the day before, marking an unprecedented escalation in hostilities and leaving over 200 soldiers killed on both sides.
Pelosi’s comments were some of the strongest and most direct to come from a U.S. official with regard to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict in many years. Pelosi is the highest-ranking U.S. official ever to visit Armenia.
Washington “continues to support a negotiated, comprehensive, and sustainable settlement to all issues related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” Pelosi stressed, adding that the United States considers both Azerbaijan and Turkey, among others, to be “responsible” for the conflict.
Echoing Pelosi’s remarks, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) said, “We will continue to support the integrity of the democracy of Armenia and the borders and resist any effort to have those broders changed.”
Speier also noted that “the House of Representatives has already introduced a resolution, co-authored by all of us here, that will say that we condemn the actions by Azerbaijan, that they must cease and desist, and I’m hopeful that we will take that resolution up soon.”
The resolution also calls “for all assistance to Azerbaijan to be immediately ceased pursuant to” Section 907, a piece of legislation that limits most U.S. aid to the Azerbaijani government.
U.S. presidents have waived Section 907 every year since 2002. Since then, Washington has provided over $160 million in assistance to Azerbaijan through programs requiring Section 907 waivers, according to a Government Accountability Office study.
In addition, Pelosi pledged further support for “advancing security, economic development, and democratic institutions in Armenia and in the region.”
With regard to security, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) said Washington understands that “Armenia is part of this security arrangement with Russia,” ostensibly referring to a friendship treaty between Yerevan and Moscow and Armenia’s membership in a Russian-led military alliance.
“We’re not suggesting (changing) anything about that,” Pallone continued. “What we’re saying is, the United States is very concerned about Armenia’s security, (and) we want to do anything we can to be more supportive.”
Turning to development, Pelosi raised the possibility Armenia could again start receiving assistance from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S. government foreign aid agency.
In 2006, Armenia was one of the first countries in the world to sign up for MCC assistance, but the agency withdrew its support for Armenia in 2008 following deadly post-election violence that year in Yerevan. The Armenian National Committee of America, a prominent lobbying group, has led calls for Armenia to rejoin the MCC for several years.
Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) added that Washington will continue funding demining efforts in the region.
Finally, Pelosi pledged to continue supporting democratization reforms in Armenia, saying that “democracy in Armenia is a joy to the world” and “Armenian democracy and sovereignty is a priority.”
Earlier Sunday, Pelosi and the congressional delegation paid a visit to the Armenian genocide memorial at Tsitsernakaberd, alongside senior Armenian government officials. Pelosi appeared visibly moved at the memorial.
Pelosi served as Speaker when the House of Representatives passed a resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide in 2019, as well as when President Joe Biden formally recognized the genocide in 2021.
