AGENDA ITEM
CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
Report: Urging Congressional Action for Armenian Genocide Recognition, Relief for Artsakh, and Holding Azerbaijan and Turkey Responsible for Acts of Genocide
1. Resolution Urging Congressional Action for Armenian Genocide Recognition, Relief for Artsakh, and Holding Azerbaijan and Turkey Responsible for Acts of Genocide
COUNCIL ACTION
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On April 16, 2024, Mayor Asatryan issued a proclamation designating April 2024 as Armenian Genocide Commemoration and Armenian Heritage Month. As part of that proclamation, the Mayor further requested that the City Council consider adopting a formal resolution and submitting letters calling upon Congress and the U.S. President to provide humanitarian aid, enforce Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, ensure return of POW’s and hostages and work towards resolution including reparations.
Item Type: Action Item
Approved for4/30/2024 calendar
2 RECOMMENDATION
Council to adopt the resolution.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
On April 16, 2024, Mayor Asatryan issued a proclamation designating April 2024 as Armenian Genocide Commemoration and Armenian Heritage Month. As part of that proclamation, the Mayor further requested that the City Council consider adopting a formal resolution and submitting letters calling upon Congress and the U.S. President to:
•Immediately provide $750 million in humanitarian aid to the more than 150,000 Armenians forcibly displaced as a result of Azerbaijan’s genocidal campaign against the Armenians of Artsakh, which commenced during its illegal invasion of Artsakh in September 2020 and continued for the next 3 plus years; and •Ensure the right-of-return for all who were forcibly displaced by Azerbaijan’s aggressions since September 27, 2020, the rights of the Armenians of Artsakh to extraterritorial self-determination (independence), in accordance with the principle of remedial secession and the global political commitment to Responsibility to Protect, and to hold Turkey and Azerbaijan accountable for their numerous and well-documented concerted efforts to commit genocide against the Armenian People by way of sanctions, halting U.S. military assistance, fully enforcing Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act; and
•Engage with Azerbaijani authorities for the immediate return of Armenian POWs and hostages; and
•Work toward equitable, constructive, stable, and durable Armenian-Turkish and Armenia-Azerbaijan relations based upon the Republic of Turkey’s and Republic of Azerbaijan’s full acknowledgement of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide, and a fair, just, and comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity, including reparations to the Armenian Nation.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
N/A
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
This item is exempt from campaign disclosure requirements.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
1) Modify the resolution with input from Council members. 2) Do not adopt the resolution.
3) Council may choose another alternative not proposed by staff. 3