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Congressional Record: Threats against Armenia

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  • Congressional Record: Threats against Armenia

    [Congressional Record: September 28, 2004 (House)]
    [Page H7716]
    >>From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
    [DOCID:cr28se04-115]


    THREATS MADE BY AZERBAIJAN AGAINST ARMENIA

    The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the
    gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 minutes.

    Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I want to bring attention to recent
    statements made by high-ranking government officials in Azerbaijan
    that threaten the security of Armenia as well as the efforts towards
    a peaceful settlement over the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict.

    This issue, if not compellingly addressed by the administration,
    has the potential to undermine U.S. interests and American values in
    the strategically important Caucasus region.

    I refer to the recent remarks made by officials in the government of
    President Aliyev calling into question the very existence of Armenia.
    For example, as reported by Radio Free Europe, the Azerbaijani Defense
    Minister spokesman called for Azerbaijan's takeover of the entire
    territory of Armenia and removal of the entire Armenian population from
    the Caucasus. He went so far as to say, ``Within the next 25 years
    there will exist no state of Armenia in the south Caucasus.'' Given
    Azerbaijan's history of aggression against Armenians, these remarks
    cannot be dismissed as mere rhetoric.

    Furthermore, Azerbaijan recently blocked key NATO exercises in the
    country, due to their opposition towards having Armenian officers
    taking part in the exercises. In fact, in June 2003, Armenia served
    as the host country for similar exercises, to which Azerbaijani
    military forces were invited, yet refused to participate. This year,
    Armenia was one of several dozen countries due to participate, yet
    the initiative was blocked by Azerbaijan, which is continuing its
    efforts to undermine the prospects for peace in the Caucasus region.

    Azerbaijan's threats again Armenia's survival reinforce our
    commitment to maintaining parity in U.S. military aid to Armenia and
    Azerbaijan. This arrangement means even more today than when it was
    first put in place, particularly in light of Baku's increasingly
    aggressive posture towards Armenia. Any tilt in military spending
    towards Azerbaijan could, in our view, destabilize the region by
    emboldening the new Azerbaijani leadership to continue their threats
    to impose a military solution of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict.

    Just last week, the Republic of Armenia celebrated Independence
    Day marking 13 years of freedom from Soviet rule. We have seen
    considerable economic growth in the country. Despite the continuing
    illegal blockade by Turkey and Azerbaijan, a recent Wall Street Journal
    study found that Armenia remains the most economically free nation in
    the region. Today, Armenia is steadfast in its support of the U.S.,
    as exhibited by their recent announcement of plans to send a unit
    of deminers, doctors and 50 trucks, including staff and drivers,
    to assist the Coalition forces in Iraq.

    It is critical to note that Armenia is today, as it has always been,
    committed to the peace process and the terms agreed to in the Key West
    summit. Since the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabagh and Azerbaijan
    conflict, Armenia has been committed to finding a peaceful resolution.
    Moreover, I cannot stress enough the crucial role that the U.S. plays
    in the negotiations over Nagorno-Karabagh to help the people of this
    region find a lasting and equitable peace. These threats by Azerbaijan
    undermine these efforts and seriously complicate our diplomacy in the
    region. A failure on our part to forcefully and publicly confront
    the Azerbaijan government over these destabilizing threats would,
    in our view, send extremely dangerous signals to Azerbaijan.

    So, Mr. Speaker, I hope that the United States takes action to condemn
    these remarks by the Azerbaijani government, and that we here in this
    Chamber do everything we can to ensure that all parties involved in
    this conflict make a genuine commitment towards peace and stability
    in the region.


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