Right of Reply to Azerbaijan on Violence against the diplomatic missions of Azerbaijan in France, Sweden, Poland, the United States, the Netherlands and Belgium, and the need to implement obligations under international law and OSCE commitments
As delivered by Ambassador James S. Gilmore III
to the Permanent Council, Vienna
July 30, 2020
Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.
The United States Embassies in Yerevan and Baku have condemned the acts of violence as inconsistent with the universal principle of peaceful assembly. The United States takes seriously its obligations to protect diplomatic facilities and is working with local law enforcement to support this effort. I remind the Permanent Council of the statement I made some weeks ago with respect to protests in the United States, where I stated freedom of speech and peaceful assembly are protected by the United States Constitution. However, acts of violence will be addressed by law enforcement as appropriate. We call on all demonstrators to engage peacefully and exercise restraint.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
###