[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 2, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E262]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IN RECOGNITION OF THE PEOPLE OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. VALADAO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 2, 2016

  Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleague, 
Representative Devin Nunes, to recognize the people of Nagorno-
Karabakh.
  Over the course of the past century, the Armenian people have been 
subject to some of the worst treatment in modern history. From the 
Armenian genocide and the repressive years under Soviet rule, to the 
pogroms committed against Armenians in the cities of Sumgait, 
Kirovabad, and Baku, the tragic plight of the Armenian people in their 
search for freedom cannot be overstated.
  As a nation built on the concept of freedom, the United States must 
support those who put their safety on the line in the pursuit of that 
most basic human right. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh have suffered 
enough under Azerbaijan's aggressive policies, and it is time for the 
international community to recognize their right to self-determination.
  Today, I rise to recognize the Armenian people, especially the people 
of Nagorno-Karabakh, who struggle for the same things the United States 
fought for over 200 years ago: life, liberty, and the pursuit of 
happiness.

                          ____________________