(ASBAREZ) VIENNA, WASHINGTON\u2014In the aftermath of Wednesday\u2019s downing of an Artsakh Army helicopter by Azerbaijani forces, the OSCE Minks Group Co-chairmen issued an announcement expressing \u201cserious concern\u201d about the incident but, once again, failing to condemn Azerbaijan for its aggression.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United States, and Pierre Andrieu of France) express our very serious concern about the downing of a helicopter near the Line of Contact and the recent violence. We regret the loss of life and express our condolences to the families,\u201d said the Minsk Group statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Co-Chairs are deeply worried by the events that prompted this drastic incident, the first of its kind since the ceasefire agreement was reached. We strongly appeal to the sides to avoid steps that would escalate tension along the Line of Contact and Armenia-Azerbaijan border. The region cannot afford another round of violence like we witnessed this summer. Today\u2019s events remind us of the volatility of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the urgency to intensify efforts to find a lasting settlement. We remain resolved to assist the sides in any way possible,\u201d added the statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe remind the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan of their responsibilities to respect the ceasefire and honor the commitments they made in Sochi, Newport, and Paris to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict. We also encourage them to adopt confidence-building measures now that would increase transparency along the Line of Contact and the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, and reduce the likelihood of events like today\u2019s incident,\u201d concluded the statement.<\/p>\n
At around 1:45 p.m. local time, Azerbaijani forces shot an Mi-24 military helicopter belonging to the Artsakh Armed Forces, killing three servicemen. The helicopter was on a training mission and according to the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Ministry was unarmed.<\/p>\n
Baku claimed that the helicopter shot at Azerbaijani positions in Aghdam on the border of Artsakh and Azerbaijan. The allegation was dismissed by the Karabakh authorities, who added that after shooting down the helicopter, the Azerbaijani forces continued the shelling of Karabakh positions throughout the afternoon.<\/p>\n
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee has condemned this latest attack by Azerbaijan and is urging the international community to take appropriate measures to condemn Azerbaijan and its continued military aggression.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the Minsk Group Co-Chairs appear to appreciate the gravity of Azerbaijan\u2019s aggression \u2013 as reflected in their welcome expression of \u2019serious concern\u2019 over Baku\u2019s fatal attack on this helicopter, the OSCE\u2019s public response once again falls back into the deeply flawed pattern of placing equal blame on both sides for hostility that all the world knows is being directed by one man \u2013 Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan,\u201d said Armenian National Committee of America<\/a> Executive Director Aram Hamparian.<\/p>\n The ANCA also urged the White House to condemn the attack on the unarmed helicopter.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Obama Administration must forcefully condemn Azerbaijan\u2019s downing of an unarmed helicopter flying over Nagorno Karabakh, cut off all military aid to Baku and scale back bilateral contacts until President Aliyev ceases his aggression against Artsakh and Armenia. Our White House needs to give up on the long-ago discredited idea that there is some sort of parity between the parties. The facts are clear, and should guide U.S. policy: Artsakh is a democracy offering its hand in peace; Azerbaijan is a dictatorship escalating its anti-Armenian aggression. America should stand on the side of peace and democracy,\u201d said Hamparian.<\/p>\n The ANCA has initiated a video call to action to secure additional statements from Congress in this regard.<\/p>\n