[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 41 (Thursday, March 9, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE 29TH ANNIVERSARY OF MASSACRES AGAINST ARMENIANS IN 
                                SUMGAIT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 9, 2017

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the twenty-ninth 
anniversary of the pogroms against people of Armenian descent in 
Sumgait, Azerbaijan.
  In late February of 1988 the Armenian people of Nagomo Karabakh, more 
commonly known by its people and descendants as Artsakh, rose up in 
peaceful protest to demand their right to self-determination. This 
courageous call for equality and human dignity was met with murderous 
riots beginning on February 27, 1988 which lasted for three days. 
Scores of Armenians were killed, hundreds were wounded, and thousands 
were forced to leave their homes and livelihoods behind.
  Undeterred by this oppression, the Armenian community and its 
dedication to democratic self-determination sparked a movement that 
finally helped bring an end to the dictatorship of the Soviet Union. 
The courage demonstrated by the people of Artsakh in demanding their 
rights even after all of the adversity is admirable and should never be 
forgotten.
  Sadly however, authoritarian leaders in Azerbaijan continue to this 
day to aggravate efforts by the Organization for Security Co-operation 
in Europe Minsk Group to achieve lasting peace in Artsakh and the 
surrounding region. On February 25, 2017, just a few days ago, the 
ceasefire along the line of contact was breached resulting in several 
casualties. This aggression is completely unacceptable and further 
hurts efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution to this conflict.
  On behalf of the thousands of Armenian Americans living in my 
congressional district I ask my colleagues to stand with the people of 
Artsakh in remembering the lives lost during this tragic conflict. May 
their memory serve as a reminder for each and every one of us to 
continue advocating for human rights and democratic freedoms around the 
world.

                          ____________________