[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1656]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE KHOJALY MASSACRE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 25, 2013

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as the United States and 
Azerbaijan continue to develop closer relations--relations which have 
proven immensely valuable to both nations--it is important to take the 
time to remember the Khojaly Massacre which took place in Azerbaijan 21 
years ago, on February 25-26, 1992.
  In a period of less than 12 hours, 1,275 Azerbaijanis were tortured 
and 613 were murdered, including 106 women and 63 children, in the town 
of Khojaly.
  Newsweek described the victims of Khojaly as ``ordinary Azerbaijani 
men, women, and children,'' separate from the on-going military 
conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
  Despite the shocking nature of these events, remembrance of the 
Khojaly Massacre has become nearly forgotten outside Azerbaijan's 
borders. This is unconscionable for our country, which has always 
fought to safeguard the human rights of all people.
  In the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, 
Azerbaijan shared in our grief and pledged to stand by the United 
States as we brought the perpetrators to justice.
  True to their word, Azerbaijan has supported allied efforts against 
international terrorism by allowing unrestricted access to their 
territory for aircraft, troops, and supplies, as well as committing 
their own troops to fight alongside our own.
  Just as Azerbaijan has supported our nation in its time of need, so 
too must we not let the massacre of the 613 Azerbaijani men, women, and 
children drift into the dim memory of history.
  I urge my colleagues to commemorate this terrible tragedy and 
continue our nation's support for the people of Azerbaijan, our 
partners in peace and prosperity for the Caspian Region.

                          ____________________