Statement by Armenian Studies Chair Holders and Armenian Studies Program and Center Directors in the United States
We have been following with great concern the war being waged against the Republics of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh) and Armenia. We condemn the large-scale military offensive against the Republic of Artsakh by the Republic of Azerbaijan which began in the early morning hours of September 27, targeting civilian populations in the capital Stepanakert and other cities. We wish to express our full solidarity with the citizens and the governments of Artsakh and Armenia and support the inalienable right of self-determination for the people of Artsakh. This is the largest military assault since the ceasefire signed in 1994, and shows the reckless disregard of the governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey for the peace efforts brokered by the OSCE Minsk Group. The involvement of the Republic of Turkey in the conflict is specially alarming given the Republic’s long history of anti-Armenian policies and persecution. Its aggressive involvement poses serious danger to the security of the entire region and to the physical existence of the Armenian people both in Artsakh and Armenia.
We believe that war and violence cannot take precedence over diplomatic negotiations that were under way for many years. We believe that working within OSCE Minsk Group framework is the only way to come to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. We call on the international community to exert their influence on Azerbaijan and Turkey immediately to put an end their military activities and to stop the war.
Hakem Al-Rustom
Alex Manoogian Professor of Modern Armenian History
Assistant Professor of History and Anthropology
Department of History
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Sebouh David Aslanian
Professor of History
Richard Hovannisian Endowed Chair in Modern Armenian History, UCLA
Inaugural Director, the Armenian Studies Center at the Promise Armenian Institute
University of California, Los Angeles
Stephan H. Astourian
William Saroyan Director, Armenian Studies Program Associate Adjunct Professor,
Department of History
University of California, Berkeley
Melanie Tanielian
Associate Professor of History
Director, Armenian Studies Program
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Kevork B. Bardakjian
Marie Manoogian Professor of Armenian Language & Literature
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Houri Berberian
Professor of History
Meghrouni Family Presidential Chair in Armenian Studies
Director of the Armenian Studies Program
University of California, Irvine
Peter Cowe
Narekatsi Chair of Armenian Studies Near Eastern Languages and Cultures
University of California, Los Angeles
Bedross Der Matossian President of the Society for Armenian Studies (SAS)
Associate Professor of History
University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Barlow Der Mugrdechian
Berberian Coordinator of the Armenian Studies Program
California State University, Fresno
Salpi Ghazarian
Director, USC Institute of Armenian Studies
USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
University of Southern California
Sergio La Porta
Haig and Isabel Berberian Professor of Armenian Studies
California State University, Fresno
Marc A. Mamigonian
Director of Academic Affairs
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR)
Belmont, MA
Christina Maranci
Arthur Dadian and Ara T. Oztemel Professor of Armenian Art
Tufts University
Ina Baghdiantz McCabe
Professor of History
Darakjian Jafarian Chair of Armenian History
Tufts University
Simon Payaslian
Charles K. and Elisabeth M. Kenosian Chair in Modern Armenian History and Literature
Department of History
Boston University
Ara Sanjian
Associate Professor of History
Director, Armenian Research Center
University of Michigan, Dearborn
Vahram Shemmassian
Director of the Armenian Studies Program
California State University, Northridge
