News - Samantha Power avoids assessing situation in Karabakh as ethnic cleansing

We hear from people who moved to Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh that they would like to return to their homes so that they can visit the graves of their relatives. This freedom of movement is absolutely necessary and important. Samantha Power, Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), told reporters in Kornidzor, Syunik. "The United States will be on the side of the Armenian government, local authorities, local volunteers who warmly welcome those coming from Nagorno-Karabakh. We will work with them to be able to provide the necessary support to those families who need it," he said. Asked whether that is happening now constitutes ethnic cleansing, Samantha Power said: "For us, it is very necessary for the international community to have the opportunity to be in Nagorno-Karabakh, because at the moment there are still tens of thousands of ethnic Armenians living there in very difficult conditions. We are already hearing stories from the witnesses about violence, deprivation, fear of the Azerbaijani authorities. Our focus is on supporting the most vulnerable to get out safely if they want to."