The actions of certain members of Congress, such as Adam Schiff
and Nancy Pelosi, to promote separatist entities and provide
legitimacy to individuals with criminal affiliations have raised
concerns regarding the stance of the United States. These actions
may be driven by the declining careers of these individuals and
their dependence on financial support from the Armenian diaspora.
Such actions have the potential to damage the US's reputation as a
defender of international law and stability in the international
system.
The recent invitation by Rep. Adam Schiff for Robert Avetisyan,
who claims to be the“Permanent Representative” of the unrecognized
entity 'Nagorno-Karabakh,' to attend the State of the Union address
given by President Joe Biden has caused controversy and raised
concerns regarding the stance of the United States on separatist
movements.
International law, as stated in the United Nations Charter and
numerous international treaties, prohibits the recognition of
separatist entities and upholds the territorial integrity of
recognized states, which aligns with the position of the
international community, including the United States, that
recognizes Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan.
Moreover, customary international law dictates that states
should avoid interfering in the internal affairs of other states.
By inviting a self-proclaimed representative of an unrecognized
entity to a significant event like the State of the Union address,
it constitutes a clear violation of this principle and undermines
the territorial integrity of recognized states, in this case,
Azerbaijan.
The invitation of Avetisyan raises doubts about the stance of
the US government on separatism and its respect for international
law. The concept of a 'Permanent Representative' from an
unrecognized entity is flawed as there is no legal recognition for
such entities to be represented. Using the State of the Union
address and self-proclaimed official positions, which are designed
to mislead and appear as if they hold diplomatic status, but in
reality are merely registered as a foreign organization
representing a foreign company or media for propaganda purposes is
unacceptable and goes against the principles of international
law.
Rep. Adam Schiff's choice to extend the invitation to Avetisyan
deserves criticism, as his close ties and personal interests with
the Armenian diaspora may have swayed his judgement. This could
potentially cause diplomatic tensions between Azerbaijan and the
United States and damage the US's reputation as a defender of
international law and the stability of the international system. As
an elected official and public figure, Schiff has the
responsibility to act in the best interest of the country and
uphold its values and principles, including respect for
international law and the territorial integrity of sovereign
states. His past controversies and close relationships with the
Armenian diaspora raise questions about his impartiality and
judgement in this matter and his ability to represent the interests
of the United States objectively.
The picture of Rep. Adam Schiff, Nancy Pelosi, Robert Avetisyan,
and former Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell taken at the
State of the Union address, which was proudly shared on Schiff's
Twitter, has been met with criticism by the American public. This
criticism highlights the lack of trust among the American people
towards the likes of Schiff and Pelosi.
To demonstrate its commitment to international law, the US
government should respond to this incident and apologize formally
to Azerbaijan. This should include clarifying its stance on the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and reiterating its dedication
to international law principles. The US government should also
consider taking disciplinary action against Rep. Adam Schiff to
ensure accountability of elected officials and to show the
significance of the US's commitment to upholding international
law.
The invitation extended to Robert Avetisyan has far-reaching
effects on the foreign policy and commitment to international law
of the United States. The US government must take appropriate
action to address the situation and reinforce its commitment to the
principles of territorial integrity and non-recognition of
separatist movements.
Adnan Huseyn is the founder of
Re-Azerbaijan.
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