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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E242-E243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMEMORATING THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BAKU AND SUMGAIT POGROMS
______
HON. JUDY CHU
of california
in the house of representatives
Monday, March 2, 2020
Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to help
commemorate the Baku and Sumgait Pogroms and to reaffirm that the U.S.
stands on the side of democracy and peace--and that means standing with
the Armenian people.
Thirty years ago, as the lines of the Soviet Union were fading, the
people of Artsakh were united and voted for greater independence from
Azerbaijan. But this peaceful movement for self-determination was
followed by premeditated and government-sponsored attacks. Over the
next two years, the Armenian population of Artsakh was repeatedly
victim to brutal and racially motivated pogroms. Hundreds were
murdered, and thousands were displaced; not only in Baku, but in places
like Sumgait and Kirovabad as well.
These pogroms were a direct assault on the right of self-
determination in Artsakh. And it is an assault that is continuing
today. I know, because I have recently returned from my first ever trip
to Armenia and Artsakh.
Since being elected and getting to know the Armenian community
myself, I have wanted to visit Armenia. And this visit was so much more
than I could have imagined. I was able to meet both the Prime Minister
and the President, have incredible dialogues with the new parliament of
Armenia, and take in the beautiful country.
But I also knew that while I was there, I had to visit Artsakh. Prior
to my trip, my office was visited by the consulate of Azerbaijan. They
[[Page E243]]
told me not to go, that it was too violent, and that there would be
consequences. But I knew I had to go, and I had to see for myself.
Not only was it not a war-torn area, as Azerbaijan would have you
believe, but Artsakh was beautiful and charming. And I was able to see
and feel the national pride that was there. Azerbaijan may not want to
recognize Artsakh, but all you have to do is walk around and talk to
the people there and you will know. The Armenian people are alive and
thriving in Artsakh.
But something else I saw while I was there was the lingering damage
caused by Azerbaijan's war on Artsakh. Land mines still make so much
land unusable, threatening the lives of farmers, children, or people
just out for a walk. And Azerbaijan's military still threatens the
peace along the border. That is why, last year, I introduced and
secured House passage of a pro-peace amendment to the National Defense
Authorization Act. This common-sense amendment urged all parties to
agree on the non-deployment of snipers, heavy arms, and new weapons;
the deployment of additional OSCE monitors, and; the placement of
gunfire-locators along the line-of-contact. But sadly, despite
overwhelming support in this House, the Senate caved to pressure from
Azerbaijan and stripped this amendment.
And now, in another gift to Azerbaijan, the State Department seems
ready to end funding for demining. This is unacceptable. I was
privileged to visit the HALO Trust in Artsakh, which leads the demining
work there, and I was amazed at how much land was cleared and made
usable again. Thanks to HALO, thousands of mines and unexploded
ordnance have been identified and removed, and Armenians in Artsakh are
able to reclaim lands that had been too dangerous before. We cannot let
this work go unfinished. I am committed to standing with the people of
Artsakh though, and that is why, as we consider Fiscal Year 2021
appropriations, I will be supporting no less than $10 million for
Artsakh demining and rehabilitation services.
You can count on me to always stand with the Armenian people and to
stand up for democracy and peace in Artsakh.
____________________