[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 34 (Friday, February 27, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E265]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE ANNIVERSARY OF MASSACRES AGAINST ARMENIANS IN SUMGAIT

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                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 27, 2015

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the twenty-seventh 
anniversary of the pogroms against people of Armenian descent in 
Sumgait, Azerbaijan. My district is home to thousands of Armenian-
Americans, many who are the sons and daughters of survivors. As they 
know well, Azerbaijani rioters started a murderous rampage in response 
to peaceful protests on February 27, 1988, that forever changed 
Armenia. During those three days, scores of Armenians were killed, 
hundreds were wounded, and thousands were forced to leave their homes 
and livelihoods behind.
  As we recognize this tragedy, we should also take this time to 
commend the people of Nagorno Karabakh on being the first to demand 
their right to freedom and self-governance from the Soviet Union. 
Although a small nation, Nagorno Karabakh sparked the democracy 
movement that ended decades of dictatorial rule in the USSR and 
eventually led to the fall of the Soviet Union.
  Sadly, the Azerbaijani government continues to act as an aggressor 
today. In November 2014, Azerbaijani armed forces shot down a Nagorno-
Karabakh helicopter participating in a training exercise near the 
cease-fire line, killing the three crew members on board. This 
aggression is completely unacceptable and further hurts efforts to 
achieve a peaceful resolution.
  Today, I ask my colleagues to stand with the proud people of Nagorno 
Karabakh in recognizing the anniversary of these tragic events. Let 
today serve as a reminder for each and every one of us to continue 
advocating for human rights and democratic freedoms around the world.

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