[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 17 (Wednesday, February 16, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HIGHLIGHTING RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJAN CONFLICT

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                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 16, 2005

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, as a result of the Armenia-Azerbaijan 
conflict, Armenian forces occupy the mountainous region of Nagorno 
Karabagh, as well as seven additional regions, resulting in a million 
refugees and internally displaced Azerbaijanis.
  Located between Russia and Iran, Azerbaijan is an important partner 
and ally in the international war against terrorism. While bilateral 
cooperation on terrorism-related issues between the U.S. and Azerbaijan 
started well before September 11, they intensified with Azerbaijan 
offering unconditional support to the coalition and becoming the first 
Muslim country to send troops to Iraq.
  While there have been several attempts to find a resolution to the 
conflict under the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe 
(OSCE) Minsk Process, little progress has been made. However, the U.S. 
continues to work towards the end. According to a recent State 
Department statement: ``The United States does not recognize Nagorno-
Karabakh as an independent country, and its leadership is not 
recognized internationally or by the United States. The United States 
supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and holds that the 
future status of Nagorno-Karabakh is a matter of negotiation between 
the parties. The United States remains committed to finding a peaceful 
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through the Minsk Group 
process. We are encouraged by the continuing talks between the Foreign 
Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan.''
  On January 25, 2005, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of 
Europe adopted a resolution on the Nagorno Karabagh conflict, which 
concluded that ``considerable parts of Azerbaijan's territory are still 
occupied by the Armenian forces and separatist forces are still in 
control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.'' Additionally it asked the co-
chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group to expedite an agreement on the issue 
and urged the parties concerned to comply with U.N. Security Council 
resolutions by refraining from any armed hostilities and ``by 
withdrawing military forces from any occupied territories.''
  Mr. Speaker, this shows the international community is ready for a 
resolution of the conflict. I welcome the initiatives by the Council of 
Europe and the statement by the U.S. Administration, and I urge my 
colleagues to support a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

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