[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 103 (Thursday, July 25, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1360]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CONTINUING AZERI WAR RHETORIC THREATENS PEACE

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                          HON. JOE KNOLLENBERG

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 24, 2002

  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call my colleagues' attention 
to the continuing war rhetoric coming from Azerbaijan regarding Nagorno 
Karabagh.
  Following the fall of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan launched a 
military offensive against Nagorno Karabagh in a failed attempt to 
impose its rule.
  In 1994, a cease-fire was negotiated which is still in effect.
  However, that fragile cease-fire is presently being undermined by 
calls for a military solution from senior Azeri officials.
  A recent example was in a July 2, 2002 speech by Azeri President 
Heydar Aliyev where he said, ``we will return our land by any means.''
  This type of irresponsible war rhetoric makes the OSCE peace mission 
co-chaired by the United States incalculably more difficult and serves 
to mislead the citizens of Azerbaijan into thinking a second military 
offensive is preferable to negotiations.
  The United States must stand strongly against Azerbaijan's threats to 
insure a peaceful resolution to this dispute.

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