[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 36 (Wednesday, March 1, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN RECOGNITION OF THE VICTIMS OF THE SUMGAIT POGROMS

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                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 1, 2017

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Sumgait 
pogroms, one of the most horrific attacks against the Armenian people, 
committed at the hands of Azerbaijanis 29 years ago.
   On February 27, 1988, hundreds of Armenian civilians living in the 
city of Sumgait in Azerbaijan were indiscriminately killed, raped, 
maimed, and even burned alive for no reason other than their ethnicity. 
This senseless violence was instigated by hostile, anti-Armenian 
rhetoric from Azerbaijani citizens and officials against innocent 
Armenians.
   For nearly three decades, Azerbaijan has taken steps to cover up 
these crimes against humanity and dismiss the atrocities at Sumgait. 
Even more disturbing is that perpetrators of this event and similar 
violent attacks have since been lauded as national heroes.
   I condemn these horrific attacks. Tragically, the Azerbaijani 
government's approach toward the Armenian people has not changed much 
since these attacks were perpetrated. In 2017, we hear the same violent 
rhetoric and witness the intimidation tactics by the Azerbaijani 
government against the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
   If we do not condemn crimes against humanity and allow them to go 
unpunished and unrecognized we only strengthen the resolve of those 
seeking to perpetrate these crimes in the future. The Armenian people 
have known this for too long, as we prepare to commemorate the 102nd 
Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in April.
   I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Congressional 
Armenian Issues Caucus to remember the victims of the pogroms at 
Sumgait and to condemn all acts of violence against people who are 
targeted simply because of their existence. I hope my colleagues will 
join me in rejecting violent rhetoric and intimidation and renewing our 
commitment to achieving a collective peace.

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