[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 14 (Tuesday, February 24, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H541-H542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAGORNO KARABAGH MOVEMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I have come to the floor of the House 
tonight to pay tribute to a very important milestone for the Armenian 
people and for people everywhere who care about the values of freedom, 
human rights and self-determination.
  Last Friday, February 20, marked the 10th anniversary of the 
liberation struggle of Nagorno Karabagh. Nagorno Karabagh, or Artsakh 
as it is known to the Armenian people, is an independent Nation 
populated primarily by ethnic Armenians and located between the 
Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Soviet dictator 
Joseph Stalin consigned Nagorno Karabagh to Azerbaijan despite the fact 
that this land has been continuously inhabited by Armenians for 
centuries. Armenia was the first Nation to embrace Christianity, and 
Karabagh was an integral part of the ancient land of Armenia. Under the 
Soviet system Nagorno Karabagh was recognized as an autonomous region 
because of its distinct Armenian identity.

[[Page H542]]

  Madam Speaker, in 1988 as Soviet central authority was breaking down, 
the Armenian people living in Azerbaijan were subjected to harassment, 
deportation and pogroms, massacres. On February 20, 1988, thousands of 
Armenians marched in Stepanakert, the capital of Karabagh, inspired by 
public protests in Armenia the day before. Eventually the people of 
Karabagh prevailed in their struggle, fighting and winning a war of 
independence. A cease-fire was signed in 1994, but persistent 
violations by Azerbaijan continue to make that cease-fire shaky at 
best.
  The cause of Karabagh became a rallying cry for the entire Armenian 
nation and the Diaspora, including 1 million Armenian-Americans. The 
establishment of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Karabagh 
also helped focus American attention on this previously ignored part of 
the world.
  Madam Speaker, Nagorno Karabagh's declaration of independence on 
September 2, 1991 and a referendum which passed shortly afterward were 
all conducted within the requirements of international law. Yet 10 
years into their independence movement, Nagorno Karabagh still has not 
achieved the international recognition to which it is entitled. I am 
sorry to say, Madam Speaker, that the United States is among the 
countries that still refuse to recognize the Nagorno Karabagh republic. 
In his speech to the national assembly last Friday, President Ghukasian 
of Karabagh stated that Karabagh has its own state symbols and is able 
to conduct its foreign and home policies by itself. He expressed 
certainty that international recognition would only be a matter of 
time.
  Madam Speaker, having twice visited Nagorno Karabagh, I can attest to 
the fact that Karabagh is indeed a functioning state. The sense of 
cohesion and mission among its citizens is inspiring. I wish I could 
share President Ghukasian's optimism about international recognition, 
although I do want to reiterate the fact that the foreign operations 
appropriations bill for this fiscal year does provide $12.5 million in 
aid targeted at Nagorno Karabagh. I want to express my admiration for 
the members of the foreign ops subcommittee who made that happen. I see 
one of the members is actually on the floor there, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Kingston).
  I am also concerned that U.S. policy, though, is headed in the wrong 
direction. The fact that the United States is a cochair of the OSCE's 
Minsk Group, which was formed to achieve a negotiated settlement of the 
Karabagh conflict, offers a great opportunity for us to take a stand in 
support of democracy and the right of peoples to determine their own 
future. Unfortunately, the United States' negotiating position places 
far too much importance on the principle of territorial integrity, 
keeping Karabagh under Azerbaijan's authority. The U.S.-supported 
negotiating position essentially forces Karabagh to surrender the gains 
it made on the battlefield with no binding security guarantees in 
exchange. The Karabagh Armenians would once again be at the mercy of 
Azerbaijan.
  I cannot help but conclude that the lure of the potential oil 
reserves in the Caspian Sea off the shores of Azerbaijan is influencing 
our policy in this region. Madam Speaker, last Friday I sent a letter 
of congratulations to President Ghukasian. I wrote that seeing the 
brave people of Artsakh and the dedicated officials serving in the 
government and armed forces of the NKR, I was reminded of the founding 
of our United States. Our Founding Fathers also had to fight for their 
independence and international recognition. I said I hoped that the 
United States and the West will base our policies in the Caucasus on 
the respect for self-determination and human rights on which our own 
nations are founded.
  The progress the people of Karabagh have made in 10 years is nothing 
short of miraculous. In the decade since 1988, the elected government 
has proven to be worthy of recognition as the legitimate government of 
the land and the people of Artsakh. In a step that I hope will spur 
further progress towards that goal, I am pleased to announce that the 
foreign minister of Nagorno Karabagh, Mrs. Naira Melkoumian, will be in 
Washington next week and we plan to have a briefing next Wednesday 
under the auspices of our Armenia Caucus to allow her an opportunity to 
interact with Members of Congress. It is my hope, Madam Speaker, that 
future anniversaries of Karabagh will be marked by strong expressions 
of congratulations from the American people and from our government.
  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Republic 
of Nagorno Karabagh on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of its 
struggle for independence. I extend my congratulations to the people of 
Nagorno Karabagh on this truly historic occasion.
  Ten years ago as the Soviet Union was falling apart and Armenians 
faced a new cycle of deportation and violence, Nagorno Karabagh took a 
brave step forward. With extraordinary sacrifice and courage, the 
people of Nagorno Karabagh affirmed their right of self-determination 
and began their struggle for independence. The Republic of Nagorno 
Karabagh emerged as a newly independent state.
  It is now time for the United States and the international community 
to recognize the legitimate government of the Republic of Nagorno 
Karabagh. It is now time for the independence of the Republic of 
Nagorno Karabagh to be secured with a lasting peace. Only direct talks 
between the parties to the conflict can secure that peace. I regret 
that to date the OSCE negotiations, co-chaired by the United States, 
have not produced workable and acceptable solutions.
  I will continue to fight along with the Armenian community in the 
diaspora for assistance to the people of Nagorno Karabagh and for a 
lasting peace. I am gratified that my original proposals for aid to 
Nagorno Karabagh were adopted by my colleagues on the Committee on 
Appropriations who allocated $12.5 million in U.S. assistance. I urge 
the Administration to move expeditiously to distribute this aid to the 
needy people of Nagorno Karabagh.
  I would like to bring your attention to the ``Caucasus Peace and 
Stability Act'' which I introduced last session to support the peace 
process in Nagorno Karabagh and to deter renewed Azerbaijani 
aggression. This bill calls upon the United States to act as an 
impartial mediator in the peace negotiations and to foster confidence 
building measures to create incentives for peace leading to a lasting 
and equitable long-term settlement to the conflict. In the case of 
renewed aggression by Azerbaijan on Nagorno Karabagh, it calls for the 
imposition of trade and investment sanctions on Azerbaijan and a ban on 
commercial arms sales. These provisions are intended to increase the 
security of Nagorno Karabagh and to provide an economic incentive for 
peace.
  I pledge that I will continue to uphold the sovereignty of Nagorno 
Karabagh and U.S. support for democracy, economic development and a 
secure future for the people of Nagorno Karabagh. I look forward to 
celebrating the 20th anniversary of a free and independent Republic of 
Nagorno Karabagh.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of ten years of 
struggle and determination by the people of Nagorno Karabagh to gain 
their independence.
  For ten years, the people of Nagorno Karabagh have aspired to create 
a republic where human rights and democracy are respected and 
cherished.
  The people of Nagorno Karabagh, mainly ethnic Armenians, have 
survived and overcome the horrors and destruction of war. For ten years 
they have resisted efforts to bring about another Armenian Genocide in 
the Caucasus. Today, they continue to bravely face the threat of 
violence and deprivation from their surrounding neighbor, the Republic 
of Azerbaijan.
  For ten years the people of Nagorno Karabagh have fought in defense 
of their homeland. In support of their efforts, I call upon the 
international community and the United States, as co-chair of the Minsk 
Group, to ensure that a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the 
region respects the self-determination and democratic aspirations of 
the people of Nagorno Karabagh.
  Mr. Speaker, our own nation was founded on the struggle and hope for 
a free and democratic nation, free from tyranny, free from oppression, 
free to determine our own future, free to honor the basic dignity of 
every human being. As an American, this is my wish for the people of 
Nagorno Karabagh--that next year will see a free and independent 
Republic of Nagorno Karabagh.
  I want to thank my colleagues from New Jersey [Mr. Pallone] and from 
California [Mr. Sherman] for their strong and capable leadership on 
these issues, and for coordinating this time today to recognize and 
celebrate the tenth anniversary of the independence movement in Nagorno 
Karabagh.

                          ____________________