[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 87 (Thursday, June 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1320]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  A TIME OF HOPE FOR NAGORNO-KARABAGH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 29, 2006

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, this week I had the pleasure of meeting with 
Nagorno-Karabagh's Foreign Minister George Petrosian and National 
Assembly Speaker Ashot Ghulian. I have long supported the right of 
self-determination for the people of Nagorno-Karabagh and greatly 
admire the efforts of the people of this historically Armenian region 
to build democracy and a market economy in the face of hostility from 
Azerbaijan.
  It is a time of hope for a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabagh 
conflict that has plagued the South Caucus for 15 years.
  The Armenian and Azeri leadership have, for several years, been 
negotiating to turn a ceasefire into a more durable peace. It is a 
process that has been long, tiring and frustrating. I applaud the 
persistence and commitment of the Nagorno-Karabagh authorities and the 
government of Armenia and I hope that all of their efforts are slowly, 
but surely, paying off.
  In the last week, the new U.S. Co-Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group 
Matthew Bryza announced the framework of an agreement that Armenian and 
Azeri political leaders will soon discuss in an effort to settle the 
conflict once and for all. In a statement that was issued by the U.S. 
embassy in Yerevan yesterday, the Minsk Group's American, French and 
Russian co-chairs said the proposal envisages a self-determination 
referendum to be held in Karabagh after the redeployment of Armenian 
troops from Azerbaijani territories surrounding Karabagh.
  I hope that this announcement will clear the way for a brighter 
future for the Karabagh people and for the people of Armenia and 
Azerbaijan. It is a sad consequence of the war that Armenia and 
Nagorno-Karabagh have been subjected to a cruel and illegal blockade by 
Turkey and Azerbaijan, a blockade that continues to undermine the 
prospects for peace.

  Armenia and the government of Nagorno-Karabagh have persisted in 
looking for ways to ease regional tensions, but the Azeris have too 
often responded by walking away. It is also not helpful that Azerbaijan 
has persistently talked of a military build-up even as it ostensibly 
negotiates with the Karabagh and Armenia. Last December's desecration 
of Armenian khatchars in Azerbaij an also poisoned the atmosphere 
surrounding the talks.
  I am pleased that the Azeri hostility has not gone unnoticed by our 
government. Last Thursday, Deputy Assistant Secretary Bryza spoke to 
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. In response to a question about 
whether the conflict could resume, he said that it is from the Azeri 
side ``where you most often hear those sorts of threats.'' And in light 
of the oil revenues, he went on to say that ``It's really quite 
unhelpful make statements that imply that this increased wealth is 
going to lead to purchases of arms and military threats.''
  In my meeting with them, I told Foreign Minister Petrosian and 
Speaker Ghu1ian how much I admire their commitment to peace and their 
leadership. Too many families have lost loved ones as a result of this 
conflict. It has been far too long that displaced refugees have been 
homeless.
  We seem to be at a real turning point in the history of the Caucus 
region and I am proud that the United States is playing a significant 
role in the peace process.

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