[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 19 (Thursday, February 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E256-E258]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       ADDRESS TO THE PARLIAMENT OF THE NAGORNO-KARABAGH REPUBLIC

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 13, 1997

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, as the cochair of the Congressional Caucus 
on Armenian Issues, I traveled to the Republics of Armenia and Nagorno-
Karabagh in late January to learn more about the courageous struggle of 
the Armenian people as they try to build self-sustaining economies and 
protect their land and freedom.
  In Armenia, I met with government officials to discuss the role of 
the United States and Armenia in preserving the security and economic 
viability of Nagorno-Karabagh, where peace is threatened by the 
territorial aggression of Azerbaijan.
  Earlier in the week, on January 27, I was most honored to be the 
first Member of Congress from the United States to speak before the 
Nagorno-Karabagh Parliament. I am providing my colleagues with a text 
of the speech in hopes that it will help educate them to the serious 
problems faced by the Armenian people and enable Members to cast votes 
in the future that could ease the suffering in that troubled part of 
the world.

       Mr. President, Mr. Foreign Minister, Mr. Chairman and 
     ladies and gentlemen.
       It is a great honor for me to address the elected 
     legislature of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabagh. As an 
     elected legislator myself, I see you as my colleagues and 
     friends, fellow-Parliamentarians and fellow-democrats. Yet, 
     to my deep regret, your service to your homeland is not 
     generally granted the same recognition and respect that my 
     status as an elected official of my country grants me around 
     the world. This situation must change. You have earned the 
     right to be accorded the respect of the international 
     community as the legitimate representatives of your land and 
     your people.
       I hope that my visit to Karabagh, and especially my 
     presence in your legislative chamber today, will contribute 
     in some small way to a growing international recognition that 
     the Republic of Nagorno-Karabagh is a reality.
       Just about one year ago today, I had the privilege of 
     meeting with President Kocharian and Foreign Minister 
     Ghoukasian during their visit to Washington. While the 
     President and Foreign Minister were accorded meetings with 
     Members of Congress, I regret that they were not accorded the 
     type of official welcome from the U.S. Administration that 
     they deserve. Despite the lack of official recognition, the 
     visit of the President and Foreign Minister did a great deal 
     to advance the cause of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabagh, 
     solidifying support among the Armenian-American community,

[[Page E257]]

     educating many U.S. foreign policy leaders, and forging new 
     bonds of friendship and understanding. When we met, the 
     President expressed his hope that he would be able to return 
     the hospitality that was shown to him by friends of Karabagh 
     during his visit to the U.S. last year. I am proud to accept 
     that offer now. I appreciate the hospitality that has been 
     shown to me, and I look forward to reporting back to the 
     American people about the courageous struggle of the people 
     of Karabagh to defend their land, their independence and 
     their freedom.
       Before I outline some of my ideas and hopes for how our two 
     peoples can grow closer in friendship and partnership, let me 
     tell you a little bit about myself and why I have come 
     here to your seat of government. I represent the Sixth 
     Congressional District of the State of New Jersey. The 
     densely populated, ethnically diverse State I represent 
     includes a significant number of Americans of Armenian 
     descent. Survivors of one of history's most monstrous 
     crimes, the Genocide perpetrated against the Armenian 
     people by the Ottoman Turkish Empire, thousands of 
     Armenians came to America in search of a new life. Many 
     arrived with little more than the shirts on their backs. 
     Yet these immigrants, these survivors, and their sons and 
     daughters, grandsons and grandaughters, have flourished 
     and thrived, becoming one of America's most successful, 
     well-educated and affluent ethnic groups.
       While there has for many years been widespread support for 
     the Armenian people among U.S. lawmakers, I felt that these 
     efforts lacked a certain focus and cohesion. So, two years 
     ago, I founded an organization within the Congress of the 
     United States known as the Congressional Caucus on Armenian 
     Issues. I invited my colleague, Congressman John Porter of 
     the State of Illinois to serve with me as co-chairman. 
     Although I am a Democrat and Mr. Porter is a Republican, we 
     put aside our partisan differences to work for common 
     approaches to support the Armenian people. In just two years' 
     time, the membership of the Caucus increased to 54--Democrats 
     and Republicans, from all regions of the vast United States 
     of America. Always there to support our efforts is the 
     Armenian Assembly, whose support has made my visit here 
     possible.
       The Caucus has provided a forum to educate Congress and the 
     public about developments in the Republics of Armenia and 
     Nagorno-Karabagh, and a vehicle to advocate in support of the 
     interests of the Armenian people.
       From the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union, 
     Americans have demonstrated their solidarity with the 
     Armenian people--in the Diaspora, as well as in the Republics 
     of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh. America has sought to 
     provide support for the people of the newly declared Republic 
     of Armenia, through humanitarian assistance, development aid, 
     the leveraging of capital investment and the facilitation of 
     cultural and educational contacts. The Freedom Support Act of 
     1992 contains many important provisions intended to engage 
     the U.S. with the Republics of the former U.S.S.R. One 
     provision of that law has made it possible for hundreds of 
     Armenian students to visit the U.S., stay with families, 
     go to schools and even come to Capitol Hill in Washington. 
     Meeting with these bright young people, talking about 
     democracy and hopes for the future, has been one of the 
     real pleasures of my job.
       Another very serious and significant provision of that 
     landmark law, Section 907, prohibits direct U.S. Government 
     assistance to the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan 
     until that country lifts its blockade of Armenia and Nagorno-
     Karabagh.
       Preserving this law has been one of the major goals of the 
     Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues. We have had to 
     withstand very strong opposition from the well-financed 
     Azerbaijan lobbying campaign. In the summer of 1995, during 
     the debate on the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, the 
     legislation that provides for America to honor its 
     commitments and protect its interests overseas, Congressional 
     friends of Armenia were successful in maintaining the law. I 
     want to pay particular tribute to my friend and colleague, 
     Congressman Pete Visclosky of the State of Indiana, a member 
     of the Armenian Issues Caucus, for his leadership in 
     maintaining the ban on aid to Azerbaijan.
       While I support diplomatic solutions, blockades not 
     sanctioned by International bodies must be regarded as 
     illegal. Current law prohibiting direct non-humanitarian U.S. 
     government assistance to the Government of Azerbaijan is the 
     correct policy. I will continue to lead the opposition to all 
     attempts to weaken these sanctions until and unless 
     Azerbaijan stops strangling Armenia and Karabagh.
       I regret to report to date that the U.S. Government has not 
     provided any direct humanitarian assistance to the people of 
     Karabagh. As many of you are aware, in 1996 the House of 
     Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation that 
     would have authorized direct U.S. humanitarian assistance to 
     Karabagh. Unfortunately, the final version of the legislation 
     that was signed into law did not allow for U.S. humanitarian 
     assistance to be provided to Karabagh.
       This was a mistake for several reasons. First, the fact 
     that the final political status of Nagorno-Karabagh has not 
     yet been determined should not be an obstacle to 
     providing humanitarian assistance. The objective of 
     humanitarian assistance is to save lives and is not 
     intended to bestow political status or challenge the 
     sovereignty of a state. Whatever the nature of a conflict, 
     humanitarian operations must be clearly, distinguished 
     from political and military efforts to achieve peace. 
     Second, humanitarian assistance should be provided on the 
     basis of need anywhere in the world. And I know that there 
     are serious needs that are not being met in Karabagh. 
     Third, in order to be an honest and impartial broker, the 
     United States should provide humanitarian aid to all in 
     the region who need it. Such a policy would send a strong 
     message that the United States is dealing fairly with all 
     sides. The unimpeded, unencumbered flow of humanitarian 
     assistance is a universal principle. I will work in the 
     coming year to ensure that U.S. humanitarian aid to 
     Karabagh is provided on the basis of expected needs.
       While on the subject of the delivery of humanitarian 
     assistance, I wanted to point out another major initiative of 
     the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues: passage of the 
     Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act. This law states quite simply 
     that countries which block the delivery of U.S. humanitarian 
     assistance to another country will themselves be ineligible 
     for receiving humanitarian assistance. While the legislation 
     does not single out any country, it would clearly include the 
     Republic of Turkey. Turkey is a recipient of huge amounts of 
     U.S. military and civilian aid. Yet this country is engaged 
     in the unconscionable blockading of the Republic of Armenia. 
     The Corridor Act has become a matter of law. Unfortunately, a 
     waiver provision in the law has made enforcement less 
     effective. Our task is to step up enforcement, to keep the 
     pressure on Turkey to do the right thing and lift the 
     blockade. Removal of the blockade would go a long way toward 
     relieving the suffering of the people of Armenia and 
     Karabagh, and would form the first major confidence building 
     measure to bring peace, stability and, ultimately, economic 
     prosperity to the Caucasus region.
       My friends, in America we have an expression that our 
     differences amongst ourselves must end at the water's edge. 
     Travelling as both a citizen and an elected representative of 
     the United States of America, I am conscious of a certain 
     obligation to defend the policies and positions that my 
     country holds. Yet, as a citizen of a democracy, I believe in 
     the need to speak out against those policies and positions 
     with which I disagree. More than 20 years ago, when I was 
     studying international law and diplomacy, I learned that 
     there are two major guiding principles in resolving 
     disputes: territorial integrity and self-determination. In 
     the case of Karabagh, I am concerned that U.S. policy, and 
     that of other nations, leans too heavily on the side of 
     territorial integrity--even though the borders were drawn 
     by the dictator Stalin to divide the historically Armenian 
     region of Karabagh from the rest of the Armenian nation, 
     and despite the fact that the Helsinki Final Act allots 
     equal value to self-determination and territorial 
     integrity. Of course, the economic clout of oil interests 
     seeking to curry favor with Azerbaijan is a very strong 
     factor influencing policy in the region. I am not opposed, 
     in fact, I specifically support the exportation of Caspian 
     Sea oil across Armenia--but not at the expense of the 
     freedom and independence of the people of Karabagh. 
     Indeed, upon my return home, it is my intention to meet 
     with our new Secretary of State, the Honorable Madeleine 
     Albright, to report on my findings and to urge greater 
     support for the interests and needs of the people of 
     Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh. I have met on several 
     occasions with the U.S. Special Negotiator for Karabagh, 
     who recognizes that the situation in Karabagh is 
     essentially without precedent and will require creative 
     diplomacy to solve. I intend to maintain that dialogue. 
     People of good will can have principled differences, yet 
     continue to work toward a common ground. America truly 
     wants to play a helpful role in resolving this dispute--
     and I mean an honorable resolution, not a solution 
     dictated upon the people of Karabagh.
       We must see to it that the people of Karabagh are 
     guaranteed their security and right to self-determination. 
     Never again should the Armenian people be subjected to the 
     pogroms, massacres and deportations that occurred in 
     Azerbaijan in 1988. It is my belief that if the question of 
     Karabagh were settled on the basis of principles proposed by 
     Azerbaijan, the people of Nagorno-Karabagh would be in 
     constant fear of genocide, deportation and massacre. It seems 
     to me that the only way to promote long-term peace and 
     stability is to respect the right of self-determination for 
     the people of Nagorno-Karabagh. Unfortunately, the 
     international community almost categorically rejects all 
     self-determination claims. This approach is not only 
     ineffective, but it often can prolong conflicts. A blanket 
     rejection of all self-determination claims does not take 
     into account that self-determination movements, such as 
     the Karabagh movement, are not all alike and therefore 
     ought to be treated differently. With respect to the 
     negotiations, the OSCE Minsk Group's mandate makes clear 
     that the final status of Nagorno-Karagagh's status is to 
     be negotiated. I believe that any predetermination by the 
     negotiators jeopardizes prospects for a peaceful and 
     negotiated settlement.
       Furthermore, no substantial progress can be made in 
     negotiations without the direct participation of Nagorno-
     Karabagh. Clearly, Azerbaijan's refusal to recognize Nagorno-
     Karabagh as a direct party to the conflict defies logic and 
     precludes serious negotiations. Currently, a cease-fire is in 
     effect, and I hope

[[Page E258]]

     it holds for the foreseeable future. Azerbaijan and Karabagh 
     have exchanged prisoners of war and accomplished other 
     agreements. Yet this cease-fire is fragile, and does not 
     constitute the basis for a permanent solution. Azerbaijan's 
     current refusal to recognize Nagorno-Karabagh as the second 
     party to the dispute is neither constructive nor realistic. 
     To the extent that the positions taken by the U.S. and the 
     international community are contributing to Azerbaijan's 
     intransigence, we must reassess those policies in light of 
     the effect they might be having.
       The Republic of Armenia must play a special role in the 
     peace process. I am spending most of this week in Yerevan in 
     meetings with government officials, and discussions over 
     Armenia's future role as guarantor of Nagorno-Karabagh's 
     security and economic viability, pursuant to international 
     agreements.
       The people of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh have turned 
     adversity and devastation into advancement, economic progress 
     and the hope for a future based on long-term peace. 
     Surrounded by hostile neighbors, Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh 
     look to the United States and the international community for 
     support in their commitment to democratic principles and a 
     market economy. As the co-chair of the Congressional Caucus 
     on Armenian Issues, I am here to learn more abut the plight 
     of the Karabagh people and to promote a peaceful solution to 
     the conflict.
       Clearly, the people of Karabagh have shown their courage 
     and determination to fight for their homeland--to die for it, 
     if necessary. Nagorno-Karabagh's Army of Defense has shown 
     the ability to control strategic territory. Your sovereignty 
     is not just a matter of future discussion or negotiation--it 
     is a matter of fact. In establishing an independent homeland, 
     you have won the war. My goal and my pledge is to help you 
     win the peace.

                          ____________________