[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 70 (Tuesday, June 6, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H3413-H3414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

  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. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to bring attention to 
the problem of internally displaced persons, or IDPs in Nagorno-
Karabakh in the Caucus. The situation is disheartening because aid is 
needed and, unfortunately, the United Nations refuses to allow its 
organizations like UNHCR and UNICEF to operate in the country largely 
due to Azerbaijan's opposition.
  Because internally displaced persons remain within the borders of 
their home country, primary responsibility for protecting and assisting 
them rests with their national authorities. However, I strongly believe 
there is also a responsibility that lies with the United States and the 
international community to bring rightful attention to this issue and 
consider ways to ease and eventually end the plight of these displaced 
individuals.
  Mr. Speaker, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, as the Soviet Union 
was collapsing the people of Nagorno-Karabakh made a peaceful request 
to reunite with Armenia, from which they were arbitrarily separated by 
Joseph Stalin in 1921.

                              {time}  2300

  Azerbaijan responded with a campaign of ethnic cleansing and full-
scale military attack on Nagorno-Karabakh.
  As a result of Azerbaijan's aggression, 30,000 people died, and 
hundreds of thousands fled the region. About 36,000 Armenian refugees 
from Azerbaijan and some 71,000 displaced ethnic Armenians now reside 
in Nagorno-Karabakh.

[[Page H3414]]

Though the fighting has ended, ceasefire violations continue, and the 
victims are still suffering.
  IDPs still face hardships, including lack of economic opportunity and 
inadequate shelter. Refugees and displaced individuals and families 
deserve humanitarian support independent of their location. However 
those in Nagorno-Karabakh have not received adequate international 
assistance.
  The International Committee of the Red Cross and Doctors Without 
Borders are the only major international organizations operating in 
Nagorno-Karabakh. Besides Armenia, the United States is the only other 
government providing them assistance.
  Now recognizing the ongoing need for humanitarian assistance, the 
U.S. Congress has provided funds to Nagorno-Karabakh since 1998. 
Through various organizations, USAID has implemented critical projects, 
including the construction of homes, improved access to water supplies 
and school reconstruction.
  Although these programs have helped improve living conditions, much 
more is still needed. So, Mr. Speaker, the UN unfortunately refuses to 
operate in Karabakh and does not send aid or organizations like UNHCR 
and UNICEF there for assistance.
  The reason given by the UN is that they do not work in ``politically 
unrecognized territories''. Yet it is my understanding that there are 
several other disputed territories where the UN currently operates. For 
example, the UN has been providing assistance to refugees in the West 
Bank and Gaza since 1950. In fact, the UN created a specific 
organization, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine 
refugees in the Near East to help Palestinian refugees.
  They have also undertaken work in other unrecognized or disputed 
areas, including Kosovo, Somaliland, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and 
Transnistria. The Karabakh authorities have made repeated requests for 
help to the UN for assistance but have been unsuccessful.
  The UN's refusal to work in Karabakh is unfair and hard to comprehend 
since the UN has been providing substantial assistance to refugees and 
IDPs residing in Armenia and Azerbaijan, while overlooking the needs of 
similar groups residing in Karabakh.
  It is encouraging that the United States is committed to finding a 
peaceful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis. But as Members of 
Congress, we must provide the leadership necessary for the UN and other 
relevant organizations to find ways to support these refugees and IDPs.
  I plan to send a letter urging the UN to reconsider its misguided 
policies that are depriving suffering people in Karabakh of urgently 
needed humanitarian assistance. I hope that my colleagues will join me 
in this effort when I send the letter, and that we can get the UN to 
turn around its position.

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