[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 26 (Monday, February 25, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   COMMEMORATING THE KHOJALY TRAGEDY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. VIRGINIA FOXX

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 25, 2013

  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, since declaring its independence from the 
Soviet Union, Azerbaijan has been a reliable friend and valuable ally 
of the United States in a turbulent region. In this true spirit of 
friendship, it seems appropriate for Congress to commemorate the 
victims of the Khojaly tragedy as Azerbaijani people mark the 21st 
anniversary of this event.
  The town of Khojaly is located in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of 
Azerbaijan and was home to some 7,000 Azerbaijani citizens during the 
Armenian-Azerbaijani war. On February 25 and 26 of 1992, in a period of 
less than 12 hours, 613 citizens, including women and children, died at 
the hands of Armenian forces and Russian military troops.
  Human rights organizations described the advancing forces as having 
committed unconscionable acts of violence against civilians as they 
fled. The bodies of fallen men, women and children were observed by 
foreign journalists who visited the region in the wake of the tragedy. 
Given our deepening ties with Azerbaijan, it is important for American 
citizens to remember this event.
  Twenty-one years later, the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict has not yet 
been fully resolved. The anniversary of this horrible tragedy is an 
appropriate time to honor the victims of these atrocities and reflect 
on the need for all parties to work together to bring a swift end to 
this conflict. I urge my colleagues to join me in standing with 
Azerbaijanis as they commemorate this tragedy.

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