[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1351 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1351
Condemning Azerbaijan's unprovoked military attack on Armenia.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 14, 2022
Mr. Schiff (for himself, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Pallone, Ms. Speier, and
Mr. Valadao) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs
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RESOLUTION
Condemning Azerbaijan's unprovoked military attack on Armenia.
Whereas, on September 13, 2022, Azerbaijan launched an unprovoked assault on
sovereign Armenian territory, with intensive shelling and UAV attacks on
the villages of Karmir Shuka and Taghavard in Nagorno Karabakh
(Artsakh), and the Armenian border cities of Vardenis, Jermuk, Goris,
and Tatev reportedly resulting in the deaths of at least 49 soldiers;
Whereas this is only the most recent escalation by Azerbaijan, as in September
2020, Azerbaijan launched a massive and unprovoked military assault on
Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians and
soldiers, the displacement of tens of thousands more civilians, and the
ongoing detention of over 100 prisoners of war;
Whereas Azerbaijan's actions are in flagrant violation of Armenia's sovereignty,
territorial integrity, and international law and represent a further
escalation of Azerbaijani aggression, which has continued unabated since
the November 2020 tripartite statement signed by Armenia, Azerbaijan,
and Russia to end the Nagorno-Karabakh war;
Whereas, in June 2022, the Department of State again waived section 907 of the
Freedom Support Act to provide assistance to Azerbaijan, despite the
recent publication of a Government Accountability Office report (22-
104619), which confirmed the Department of State and Department of
Defense have failed to meet statutory reporting requirements to Congress
on the impact of United States assistance on the peace process and the
military balance between Armenia and Azerbaijan;
Whereas section 907 of the Freedom Support Act is intended to prevent United
States military assistance to Azerbaijan unless the President certifies
Azerbaijan ``is taking demonstrable steps to cease all blockades and
other offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh'';
and
Whereas peace, stability, and democracy in the Caucasus region are in the
political, security, and economic interests of the United States and are
matters of international concern: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns the September 13, 2022, unprovoked military
attack launched by Azerbaijani forces on Armenia and Nagorno-
Karabkh and calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire;
(2) calls for all assistance to Azerbaijan to be
immediately ceased pursuant to the section 907 of the Freedom
Support Act and for the Administration to make clear to
President Aliev that further attacks on Armenia and Nagorno-
Karabakh will result in sanctions or other measures;
(3) stands firmly in support of our democratic partner
Armenia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and against
Azerbaijan's military aggression and blatant violations of
international laws and norms; and
(4) supports the United States and international
humanitarian assistance programs to meet the urgent needs of
victims of Azerbaijani aggression in both Armenia and Nagorno-
Karabakh.
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