04/03/14 - Statement submitted for the Congressional Record on Khojaly - Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of my colleagues the tragic events that began on February 25, 1992 in the Azerbaijan town of Khojaly in the Nagarno Karabakh region.

On that fateful day Armenian forces began a brutal attack on the 7,000 Azerbaijani citizens of Khojaly. During the attack 613 Azeris were killed, 1,275 were taken hostage, and 487 were seriously injured. Of the dead 106 were women and 83 were children. Many of those killed were first brutally tortured.

In blatant disregard of four UN Resolutions calling for the withdrawal of Armenian forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, Armenia continues to occupy Khojaly and surrounding territories. The occupied area constitutes twenty percent of Azerbaijan.

The Minsk Group, comprised of the United States, France and Russia, works with Armenia and Azerbaijan to reach a peaceful settlement to no avail. Nothing can change the tragedy that occurred at Khojaly but with a peaceful settlement and the withdrawal of Armenian forces from the occupied territories, what remains of the 900,000 Azeris displaced from the entire conflict can return to the land they call home and rebuild their lives.

I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering the victims of this tragedy and do all we can to further the Minsk Group's efforts so there is a peaceful resolution and the people of Nagorno Karabakh can return home.

02/06/13 - Statement submitted for the Congressional Record on Khojaly - Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of a tragic event in the history of the country of Azerbaijan .

On the night of January 19, 1990, Azerbaijan was invaded by thousands of Soviet troops. These troops entered Azerbaijan under the pretext of restoring public order, but with the true aim of ending peaceful demonstrations for independence.

Despite resistance to the Soviet troops by Azerbaijanis, more than 130 Azerbaijani people were killed and hundreds more were wounded or detained indefinitely. This episode came to be known as 'Black January,' a terrible event that only sharpened the desire for independence among the people of Azerbaijan .

By 1991, popular pressure had restored the independence of Azerbaijan. On August 30, 1991, Azerbaijan's Parliament adopted the Declaration on the Restoration of the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and on October 18, 1991, the Constitutional Act on the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan was approved. The United States established diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan in 1992. Since then, Azerbaijan has been a steadfast ally to the United States and an important strategic partner in the region.

Each year, the people of Azerbaijan remember those who lost their lives on Black January in 1990 and honor their sacrifice through their commitment to the ideals of democracy.

I urge my colleagues to commit to fostering a strong partnership between the United States and Azerbaijan so that together, we can promote freedom and democracy around the world.