[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 134 (Friday, November 19, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H10057-H10058]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ASKING ADMINISTRATION TO URGE A U.S. VOTE AGAINST AZERBAIJAN'S U.N. 
                               RESOLUTION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to bring to our 
attention Azerbaijan's recent introduction of an ill-advised United 
Nations General Assembly resolution regarding what Azerbaijan 
erroneously refers to as ``the situation in the occupied territories of 
Azerbaijan.''
  This intentionally disruptive resolution directly and significantly 
threatens efforts towards a peaceful settlement over the Nagorno-
Karabagh conflict. Furthermore, it jeopardizes the principles and 
procedures of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 
and specifically the Minsk Group mediation effort, co-chaired by the 
United States, France and Russia, to resolve the Karabagh conflict.
  Azerbaijan's proposal represents a hostile declaration against the 
entire peace process, aimed only at fostering increased divisiveness. 
Its consideration can only set back the cause of peace.
  Mr. Speaker, it is disturbing to note that this resolution was 
recently approved to be included on the U.N. General Assembly's agenda. 
Even more alarming is the fact that the United States has thus far 
failed to compellingly address the resolution, choosing to instead 
abstain from every vote in which they had an opportunity to halt the 
advancement of this destructive measure. This failure by the 
administration now has the potential to undermine U.S. interests and 
American values in the strategically important Caucasus region.
  Mr. Speaker, the vital role the United States plays as an honest 
broker in the Nagorno-Karabagh peace process is gravely threatened by 
the administration's continued lack of decisive action. Given our 
commitment to keeping the parties talking and moving forward, it is 
necessary for the U.S. to act forcefully against destabilizing steps 
that will unravel the peace process. Our interests are best served by 
the continuation of dialogue on the outstanding issues related to 
Nagorno-Karabagh within the OSCE framework and not by the fragmentation 
of this orderly process.
  Since the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict, Armenia has 
been committed to finding a peaceful solution. Moreover, I cannot 
stress enough the crucial role that the U.S. plays in the negotiations 
over Nagorno-Karabagh to help the people of this region find a lasting 
and equitable peace. These actions by Azerbaijan subvert these efforts 
and seriously complicate our diplomacy in the Caucasus region. A 
failure on our part to forcefully and

[[Page H10058]]

publicly confront the Azerbaijani government over these destabilizing 
maneuvers would send extremely dangerous signals to Azerbaijan.
  Mr. Speaker, the U.S. must take action to condemn Azerbaijan's 
desperate acts of destructive venue shopping, and we here in this 
Chamber must do everything that we can to ensure that all parties 
involved in this conflict make a genuine commitment towards peace and 
stability. Action on the part of the U.S. must go further than the OSCE 
joint statement that was released in which the members of the Minsk 
Group expressed their concern and opposition towards the Azeri 
resolution. Beyond merely releasing a statement, the U.S. must 
demonstrate its views by taking a stance and voting against this 
measure.
  I urge the U.S. to forcefully renounce this proposal, secure its 
retraction and impress upon the Azerbaijani government that it should 
drop such counterproductive tactics in favor of serious and lasting 
commitment to the OSCE Minsk Group process.
  The OSCE Minsk Group process cannot survive Azerbaijan's 
destabilizing tactics. Continued tampering with this process will 
inevitably produce a chain reaction resulting in its demise. We cannot 
afford to allow Azerbaijan to continue to disrupt the work of the OSCE, 
which, as my colleagues know, has been recognized by the U.N. itself as 
the lead arbiter in this conflict.
  Finally, it is time for the U.S. to be more forceful with Azerbaijan 
and to make clear that their tactics are not helpful to a peaceful and 
just resolution of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. Once again, it is 
imperative, Mr. Speaker, for the U.S. to vote against this U.N. 
resolution, thereby clearly demonstrating that there are serious 
consequences to actions that disturb the regional Caucasus peace, 
security and prosperity.

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