[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 7 (Thursday, January 17, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E35]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      COMMEMORATING BLACK JANUARY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 17, 2008

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, as a member of the House 
Foreign Affairs Committee, I note that January 19 will mark the 18th 
anniversary of an historic and tragic day in the history of the country 
of Azerbaijan. On the night of January 19, 1990, 26,000 Soviet troops 
invaded the capital city of Baku and surrounding areas. By the end of 
the next day, more than 130 people had died, 611 were injured, 841 were 
arrested and 5 were missing. This event is memorialized as ``Black 
January,'' and for the citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan this 
event left an indelible mark on the minds of all citizens.
  Soviet troops entered Azerbaijan under the authority of a state of 
emergency declared by the USSR Supreme Soviet Presidium and signed by 
then President Mikhail Gorbachev. In the face of growing unrest among 
the people of Azerbaijan, a national independence movement which had 
gained a strong foothold, and emerging democratic groups who were 
projected to succeed in an upcoming Parliament, the Soviet Union sought 
to ``restore order'' by indiscriminately firing on those peacefully 
demonstrating in Baku, including women and children. The protesters 
were calling for independence from the Soviet Union and the removal of 
Communist officials.
  The Soviet incursion in early 1990 was intended to suppress the 
growing independence movement. Instead, it further incited Azerbaijani 
nationalism. In the end, Azerbaijan's pro-Moscow regime grew weaker and 
by 1991, popular pressure led the country to break away from Soviet 
rule and declare its independence. On August 30, 1991, Azerbaijan's 
Parliament adopted the Declaration on the Restoration of the State 
Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and on October 18, 1991, 
the Constitutional Act on the State Independence of the Republic of 
Azerbaijan was approved. November 1991 marked the beginning of 
international recognition of Azerbaijan's independence. The United 
States opened an embassy in Baku in March 1992 and remains committed to 
aiding Azerbaijan in its transition to democracy and its formation of 
an open market economy.
  Some historical observers have noted that the violence inflicted on 
the citizens of Baku may have been intended to send a message to other 
Soviet republics that similar aspirations of nationalism would not be 
tolerated. In the wake of this horrific act and inspired by the 
strength of the Azerbaijani people's belief in the principles of 
democracy, the Republic of Azerbaijan has maintained its independence 
for over 16 years, despite lingering economic and social problems from 
the Soviet era. Today, Azerbaijan has developed into a thriving country 
with double digit growth, in large part due to a freely elected 
president and parliament, free market reforms led by the energy sector, 
and most importantly, no foreign troops on its soil.
  The road to independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity for 
the Azerbaijani people has not come without adversity and sacrifice. 
Even though Azerbaijan thrives today, the people of Azerbaijan 
recognize those who lost their lives on Black January in 1990 and honor 
their sacrifice through their commitment to the ideals of democracy. On 
the anniversary of this terrible tragedy, we who believe in the tenets 
of freedom and the hope of democracy should recognize the incredible 
sacrifice made by the people of Azerbaijan and by free people all 
around the world.

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