[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 111 (Thursday, August 2, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 1, 2001

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record the following letter 
on Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Process:

                                               Washington, DC,

                                                    April 4, 2001.
     Hon. Colin Powell,
     Secretary of State, Department of State,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Secretary Powell: I would like to extend my 
     congratulations to you on your appointment earlier this year 
     as our nation's new Secretary of State. Your expertise in 
     international affairs and your prestige among world leaders 
     will undoubtedly serve as an asset to the office and our 
     country.
       As a representative of the largest Armenian community 
     outside of Armenia, I am very interested in the recent 
     developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, as well 
     as U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and the 
     economic well being of the Republic of Armenia.
       Your personal attendance at the talks on Nagorno-Karabakh 
     in Key West, Florida is an indication of the Administration's 
     interest in the region.
       I fully agree with your statement expressing our country's 
     commitment to facilitating a mutually acceptable settlement 
     of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. While a lasting peace will 
     serve as a stabilizing force in the Caucasus, I sincerely 
     hope that the history of this region will be an important 
     factor in determining outcomes.
       In his attempt to fortify his iron grip over a multiethnic 
     and multicultural society that was the Soviet Union, Joseph 
     Stalin redrew the map of the region to weaken the indigenous 
     populations by carving up ethnically homogeneous republics 
     into unrecognizable autonomous and semi-autonomous regions, 
     such as Nagorno-Karabakh, Nakhichevan and Javakh, all 
     historically Armenian.
       The Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks may be our opportunity to 
     correct one of the many historical injustices committed by 
     Stalin.
       As a member of the House International Relations Committee, 
     I would greatly appreciate an opportunity to meet with you in 
     the near future to discuss the Administration's policy vis-a-
     vis the Caucasus. I look forward to hearing from your office 
     regarding a meeting and look forward to working with you on 
     foreign policy issues in the years to come.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Adam B. Schiff,
                                               Member of Congress.

     

                          ____________________