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Washington: SPEECH OF HON. JIM COSTA OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013
US Official News
March 13, 2013 Wednesday
The Library of Congress, The Government of USA has issued the
following Speech:
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the twenty-fifth
anniversary of the pogroms against people of Armenian descent in
Sumgait, Azerbaijan. This ungodly massacre in 1988 resulted in
the murder of scores of Armenians. Tragically, women and girls
were viciously raped and hundreds of Armenians were wounded. The
chaos led to thousands of Armenian refugees who were left without
homes or livelihoods. It was from the ashes of these terrible fires
that arose the Nagorno Karabakh democracy movement that has, after
many terrible years of Azerbaijani war, blockades, and aggression,
resulted in hard-won freedom and democracy for the proud citizens of
this ancient Christian land.
As we recognize this tragedy, it is also proper that we celebrate
the courage of the people of Nagorno Karabaldi as the first to rise
up against the Soviet Union and to demand their right to freedom and
self-governance. We celebrate the self-determination of the people
of Nagorno Karabakh, their declaration of independence more than two
decades ago, and their role in ending the Soviet threat to America. We
should never forget the brave efforts of this small nation in sparking
the democracy movement that ended decades of dictatorial rule in the
USSR and eventually led to the fall of the Soviet Union.
Sadly, over the past quarter century, the Azerbaijani government has
attacked the people of Karabakh with a clenched fist. Azerbaijan
has consistently obstructed the peace process, walking away from
its own agreements, and instead sought to incite hatred within its
own population with anti-Armenian rhetoric and regular cross border
attacks and threats of renewed war. Perhaps the most telling example
was the President of Azerbaijan's decision to pardon, praise, and
even promote Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani soldier who was sentenced
to life in prison for the brutal murder of unarmed Armenian Army
officer Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest in 2004.
Today, I ask my colleagues to stand with the proud people of Nagorno
Karabakh because our two peoples share so many of the same foundational
ideals including a commitment to the values of freedom, human rights,
self-determination, and democracy.
US Official News
March 13, 2013 Wednesday
The Library of Congress, The Government of USA has issued the
following Speech:
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the twenty-fifth
anniversary of the pogroms against people of Armenian descent in
Sumgait, Azerbaijan. This ungodly massacre in 1988 resulted in
the murder of scores of Armenians. Tragically, women and girls
were viciously raped and hundreds of Armenians were wounded. The
chaos led to thousands of Armenian refugees who were left without
homes or livelihoods. It was from the ashes of these terrible fires
that arose the Nagorno Karabakh democracy movement that has, after
many terrible years of Azerbaijani war, blockades, and aggression,
resulted in hard-won freedom and democracy for the proud citizens of
this ancient Christian land.
As we recognize this tragedy, it is also proper that we celebrate
the courage of the people of Nagorno Karabaldi as the first to rise
up against the Soviet Union and to demand their right to freedom and
self-governance. We celebrate the self-determination of the people
of Nagorno Karabakh, their declaration of independence more than two
decades ago, and their role in ending the Soviet threat to America. We
should never forget the brave efforts of this small nation in sparking
the democracy movement that ended decades of dictatorial rule in the
USSR and eventually led to the fall of the Soviet Union.
Sadly, over the past quarter century, the Azerbaijani government has
attacked the people of Karabakh with a clenched fist. Azerbaijan
has consistently obstructed the peace process, walking away from
its own agreements, and instead sought to incite hatred within its
own population with anti-Armenian rhetoric and regular cross border
attacks and threats of renewed war. Perhaps the most telling example
was the President of Azerbaijan's decision to pardon, praise, and
even promote Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani soldier who was sentenced
to life in prison for the brutal murder of unarmed Armenian Army
officer Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest in 2004.
Today, I ask my colleagues to stand with the proud people of Nagorno
Karabakh because our two peoples share so many of the same foundational
ideals including a commitment to the values of freedom, human rights,
self-determination, and democracy.