San Diego Mayor, Todd Gloria has issued a proclamation declaring October 18th as “Azerbaijan’s Restoration of Independence Day” in San Diego.
This proclamation is as misleading as it is dangerous, serving only to embolden a regime in Baku that has failed in every regard to embody the values you have put forward in this statement.
From the incitement and encouragement of racially motivated hate crimes against Armenians, to the systematic destruction of Armenian cultural heritage, to the institutionalized dehumanization of Armenians throughout every level of Azerbaijani society – to claim Azerbaijan is a “successful model of peaceful and harmonious coexistence” is not only factually incorrect, but it also whitewashes Azerbaijan’s egregious violation of international law and obfuscates the persecution Armenians have been subject to at the hands of Baku’s regime.
It is unconscionable that in light of the Azerbaijani regime’s egregious violation of international law, and its shameless disregard of fundamental and inalienable human rights, a proclamation like this would be issued. To embolden and defend this regime amidst its torture of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives, its ongoing aggression against Armenia and violation of its sovereignty, as well as its widely documented persecution, dehumanization, and ethnic cleansing of the region’s indigenous Armenian population, is to be complicit in its actions.
The fact that this proclamation was issued the day proceedings were initiated in the International Court of Justice against Azerbaijan over its violation of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination only further demonstrates how irresponsible this declaration is.
Please take a moment to contact Mayor Gloria and the City Council to express your disappointment in the mayor’s decision to issue this proclamation and ask that he rescind it immediately.
Contact information and suggested scripts are below.
