[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 33 (Thursday, February 26, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E260]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            KHOJALY TRAGEDY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. PETE OLSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 26, 2015

  Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to again ask my colleagues to 
join me in remembering the devastating atrocities that took place in 
Azerbaijani town of Khojaly on February 26, 1992. Thanks to Armenian 
and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) forces over the course of 
22 hours, 613 civilian lives were lost. Innocent children, women and 
elderly men were brutally murdered.
  Since this tragedy took place in the early 1990s, Azerbaijan has 
worked to heal and become a successful country, with a booming economy. 
As a result, the economy of Azerbaijan is the fastest growing among the 
CIS states. In the turbulent geopolitical region, Azerbaijan is a 
reliable partner of the United States. Moreover, Azerbaijan is a close 
ally and trade partner with another strong American ally--Israel--in 
the region.
  Mr. Speaker, we must stand close by our allies. That is why I urge my 
colleagues to recognize the human tragedy that occurred in Azerbaijan 
23 years ago. Please, join me and all of our our Azerbaijani friends in 
commemorating the lives lost during the Khojaly massacre.

                          ____________________