The letter, signed by five members of the Los Angeles County Board of Governors, was sent to the Capitol. The addressees are members of the Congressional Armenian Caucus. The governors of Los Angeles County stated in the letter that they join the initiative of the congressmen and demand from Azerbaijan to immediately release the captured Armenian soldiers and civilians.
“This resolution asks Azerbaijan to release approximately 200 POWs and detained civilians. It is actually demanding that they should do that. This resolution also asks the US Secretary of State to engage with all Azerbaijani authorities to stress the importance of adhering to their obligations under international law,” said Catherine Burger, member of the Los Angeles County Board of Governors.
Another branch of local government in Los Angeles, the Burbank City Council, has also recently passed a significant document. The council canceled the Hadrut-Burbank twin town program, which launched in 2014. The resolution states that during the Azerbaijani military aggression against the Artsakh Republic, the city of Hadrut suffered significant damage from Azerbaijani missiles and cluster bombs, and the population was displaced. “Azerbaijanis have committed war crimes in the city”, the document from the Burbank City Council reads. “Taking into account the displacement of Armenian citizens of Hadrut, the devastating attacks by Azerbaijan, the fact that Hadrut is under Azerbaijani control, we respond to the request of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Burbank branch, and terminate the twin town program with Hadrut”, the resolution reads.
“It was the October 27, 2020 that the Council adopted the resolution condemning Azerbaijan’s military aggression. The resolution called upon the White House to demand a cessation of hostilities. We always stand next to the Armenian community, we support the community to settle their issues both with many previous initiatives and this resolution”, said Jess Talamantes, Deputy Mayor of Burbank.
Besides, the American officials stated in the document that they always supported the largest Armenian community, including every year recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide committed by Ottoman Turkey.
The Burbank City Council also expresses its support to the American-Armenians, whose family members and friends became victims of the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh.
