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March 1, 2014 Saturday
Washington: HON. DAVID N. CICILLINE OF RHODE ISLAND IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES Friday, February 28, 2014
LENGTH: 448 words
DATELINE: Washington
The Library of Congress, The Government of USA has issued the following Speech:
Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, today we commemorate the 26th Anniversary
of the horrific Sumgait Pogroms. On February 27, 1988 organized mobs
of Azerbaijanis aimed at killing and driving Armenian Christians
living in Sumgait from their homes. Armed with sticks, axes and iron
rods, they attacked Armenian men, women and children by breaking into
their homes and brutally beating and killing them just because of
their ethnicity. Despite Sumgait's 30 minute proximity to Baku, police
allowed the pogroms to go on for 3 days, during which Armenians were
burned alive and thrown from windows.
These acts were merely a continuation of the Azerbaijani authorities'
unswerving policy of racism towards Armenians and ethnic cleansing of
the Armenian population, with unpunished killings and deportations.
The Sumgait massacre is a black mark on history and sadly, this event
sparked further violence as Armenians would be targeted less than 9
months later in Kirovabad and again in Baku in 1990.
The Azerbaijani Government has shamefully continued to undermine
prospects for a lasting peace in the Southern Caucuses, recently in
2012, pardoning an Azerbaijani military officer Ramil Safarov who
brutally murdered Armenian military officer Gurgen Margaryan during a
NATO-sponsored Partnership for Peace exercise in 2004. Safarov
confessed and was convicted in Budapest for brutally axing Margaryan
while he was sleeping. Safarov never showed remorse for the murder and
stated that he wished he had killed more Armenians. Immediately after
his pardon Safarov received a promotion in the Azerbaijani military,
an apartment, and years of back pay for his time spent in prison.
For more than 20 years, the people of Nagorno Karabakh have fought and
died for their independence. From the earliest days of its formation,
the Republic's freely elected governmental bodies have helped build an
open democratic society through transparent elections and it is
critical that the United States support their independence and
autonomy.
As we reflect on these horrific outbreaks of ethnic violence, I join
with Armenians in Rhode Island, and across the world in remembering
these victims and renewing our commitment to justice, independence and
finding lasting peace.
I am proud to say Rhode Island was the first state in our nation to
pass a resolution to recognize the Independence of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic and set an example for other legislatures to follow,
like Massachusetts, Maine and Louisiana. The time has come for the
United States Congress to do the same.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
March 1, 2014 Saturday
Washington: HON. DAVID N. CICILLINE OF RHODE ISLAND IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES Friday, February 28, 2014
LENGTH: 448 words
DATELINE: Washington
The Library of Congress, The Government of USA has issued the following Speech:
Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, today we commemorate the 26th Anniversary
of the horrific Sumgait Pogroms. On February 27, 1988 organized mobs
of Azerbaijanis aimed at killing and driving Armenian Christians
living in Sumgait from their homes. Armed with sticks, axes and iron
rods, they attacked Armenian men, women and children by breaking into
their homes and brutally beating and killing them just because of
their ethnicity. Despite Sumgait's 30 minute proximity to Baku, police
allowed the pogroms to go on for 3 days, during which Armenians were
burned alive and thrown from windows.
These acts were merely a continuation of the Azerbaijani authorities'
unswerving policy of racism towards Armenians and ethnic cleansing of
the Armenian population, with unpunished killings and deportations.
The Sumgait massacre is a black mark on history and sadly, this event
sparked further violence as Armenians would be targeted less than 9
months later in Kirovabad and again in Baku in 1990.
The Azerbaijani Government has shamefully continued to undermine
prospects for a lasting peace in the Southern Caucuses, recently in
2012, pardoning an Azerbaijani military officer Ramil Safarov who
brutally murdered Armenian military officer Gurgen Margaryan during a
NATO-sponsored Partnership for Peace exercise in 2004. Safarov
confessed and was convicted in Budapest for brutally axing Margaryan
while he was sleeping. Safarov never showed remorse for the murder and
stated that he wished he had killed more Armenians. Immediately after
his pardon Safarov received a promotion in the Azerbaijani military,
an apartment, and years of back pay for his time spent in prison.
For more than 20 years, the people of Nagorno Karabakh have fought and
died for their independence. From the earliest days of its formation,
the Republic's freely elected governmental bodies have helped build an
open democratic society through transparent elections and it is
critical that the United States support their independence and
autonomy.
As we reflect on these horrific outbreaks of ethnic violence, I join
with Armenians in Rhode Island, and across the world in remembering
these victims and renewing our commitment to justice, independence and
finding lasting peace.
I am proud to say Rhode Island was the first state in our nation to
pass a resolution to recognize the Independence of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic and set an example for other legislatures to follow,
like Massachusetts, Maine and Louisiana. The time has come for the
United States Congress to do the same.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress