07/26/12 - Statement submitted for the Congressional Record on Cyprus - Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the Administration to join in the international effort to reach a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus as a bi-zonal and bi-communal federation. This continued dispute has real regional and global implications. It threatens effective NATO-EU cooperation, affects regional stability, and also remains an obstacle to Turkey, our key partner and ally, gaining full membership to the European Union, which the United States has long supported.

I continue to believe that a just and viable solution to the longstanding Cyprus problem is not only achievable, but also urgent and necessary. The key to the settlement in Cyprus is the renewal of the Partnership between the two equal co-owners and co-founders of the ``Republic of Cyprus'' , as established in 1960: Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. As a matter of fact, Turkish Cypriot people have long proven their readiness to renew the Partnership State. In 2004 they demonstrated the necessary political will for a comprehensive solution by voting strongly for the UN Settlement Plan in the separate and simultaneous referenda, a proposal that was overwhelmingly rejected by the Greek Cypriot side.

Since assuming the European Union term presidency on July 1, there is no better time for the Greek Cypriot government to take the long-awaited substantial steps towards a comprehensive settlement with the Turkish Cypriots. I hope this new EU role for Cyprus will not hinder the continuation of reunification talks. In fact, I believe that Cyprus' six-month term in the presidency of the EU brings extra responsibilities to show sincere efforts towards peace.

The international community and the United States will have to answer a fundamental question in the days ahead: Are we going to put in place all necessary efforts in order to reach a comprehensive solution in Cyprus , and thus demonstrate the political will to that effect, or are we going to let an achievable settlement slip away once again, all the while perpetuating the illegitimate and unjust isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people? A continued status quo in Cyprus is not beneficial to any party, and the time is now to solve a dispute that has lasted for more than forty years.

In light of recent actions by Syria and others in the Middle East, Turkey has continued to operate as an important U.S. ally in the region, and all parties acknowledge that Turkey's membership to the European Union cannot be achieved without first tackling these issues in Cyprus . Therefore, all sides should return to the table and set a timeline for action, and this Administration should work with all stakeholders to ensure that any agreement respects human rights and ensures the fundamental freedoms for all Cypriots.

While the people of Cyprus must ultimately decide their own fate, there is no better time for the international community to support such reunification efforts. As all eyes remain on Cyprus during its term with the EU presidency, and continued talks would signal to the world that both parties are committed to establishing a peaceful and prosperous future for all Cypriots.

02/14/12 - Statement submitted for the Congressional Record on Khojaly - Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Khojaly massacre by Armenian armed forces on February 25-26, 1992 in the town of Khojaly in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan . Khojaly, now under the occupation of Armenian armed forces, was the site of the largest killing of ethnic Azerbaijani civilians in the course of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.

Khojaly, once the home to 7,000 people, was completely destroyed. Six hundred thirteen people were killed, of which 106 were women, 83 were children and 56 were purported to have been killed with extreme cruelty and torture. In addition, 1,275 people were taken hostage, 150 went missing and 487 people became disabled. Also in the records maintained, 76 of the victims were teenagers, 8 families were wiped out and 25 children lost both of their parents while 130 lost one of their parents. According to Human Rights Watch and other international observers, the Armenian armed forces were reportedly aided by the Russian 366th Motor Rifle Regiment.

At the time, Newsweek magazine reported: ``Azerbaijan was a charnel house again last week: a place of mourning refugees and dozens of mangled corpses dragged to a makeshift morgue behind the mosque. They were ordinary Azerbaijani men, women and children of Khojaly, a small village in war-torn Nagorno-Karabakh overrun by Armenian forces on 25-26 February. Many were killed at close range while trying to flee; some had their faces mutilated, others were scalped.''

As part of the Khojaly population that tried to escape, they encountered violent ambushes that led to abuses, torture, mutilation and death. The Russian organization, Memorial, stated that 200 Azerbaijani corpses were brought from Khojaly to Agdam within four days.

Time magazine published the following description: ``While the details are argued, this much is plain: something grim and unconscionable happened in the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly 2 weeks ago. So far, some 200 dead Azerbaijanis , many of them mutilated, have been transported out of the town tucked inside the Armenian-dominated enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh for burial in neighboring Azerbaijan . The total number of deaths--the Azerbaijanis claim 1,324 civilians have been slaughtered, most of them women and children--is unknown.''

The extent of the cruelty of this massacre against women, children and the elderly was unfathomable. This anniversary reminds us of the need to redouble efforts to help resolve the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. The United States as a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group should continue to stay engaged in the resolution of this protracted conflict.

Mr. Speaker, Azerbaijan is a strong ally of the United States in a strategically important and complex region of the world. I ask my colleagues to join me and our Azerbaijani friends in commemorating the tragedy that occurred in the town of Khojaly.

12/13/11 - Spoke against H. Res. 306 and questioned its necessity and said that Turkey should be singled out for praise instead.

09/23/11 - Statement submitted for the Congressional Record on Azerbaijan - Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the departing Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United States of America, His Excellency Yashar Aliyev. Mr. Aliyev has served in this post since December 2006, but his diplomatic career is long and distinguished.

Ambassador Aliyev began his diplomatic career at the United Nations in 1992, serving as political affairs counselor and charg? d'affaires of Azerbaijan's Permanent Mission. He was also Azerbaijan's delegate to the First and Fourth Committees at the forty-seventh through fifty-sixth sessions of the United Nations General Assembly. Having joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan in 1989, Ambassador Aliyev held posts as political officer, first secretary and deputy director in the Ministry's Department of Information and Political Analysis, as well as director of the Department of International Organizations. From 2002-2006, he served as Azerbaijan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

It has been my honor and privilege to work with Ambassador Aliyev on issues important to Azerbaijan . I have come to regard him as a determined and passionate advocate for his country and the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and the United States. I praise the Ambassador for his tremendous efforts and contributions to raise awareness among Members of Congress and Administration officials of the important role Azerbaijan is playing in the security of the United States.

I want to offer Ambassador Aliyev my appreciation for his 5 years of service in Washington, D.C. As Ambassador Aliyev moves on to new responsibilities and assignments, I extend to him my highest regards and best wishes. Mister Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me today in wishing His Excellency Yashar Aliyev the best and congratulating him on his impressive service.

02/17/11 - Statement submitted for the Congressional Record on Khojaly - Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the Khojaly massacre by Armenian forces on February 25-26, 1992 in the town of Khojaly in the Nagorno Karabagh region of Azerbaijan . Khojaly, now under the occupation of Armenian forces, was the site of the largest killing of ethnic Azerbaijani civilians. Khojaly, once the home to 7,000 people, was completely destroyed. Six hundred thirteen people were killed, of which 106 were women, 83 were children and 56 were purported to have been killed with extreme cruelty and torture. In addition, 1,275 people were taken hostage, 150 went missing and 487 people became disabled. Also in the records maintained, 76 of the victims were teenagers, 8 families were wiped out and 25 children lost both of their parents while 130 lost one of their parents. According to Human Rights Watch and other international observers, the Armenian armed forces were reportedly aided by the Russian 366th Motor Rifle Regiment.

At the time, Newsweek magazine reported: ''Azerbaijan was a charnel house again last week: a place of mourning refugees and dozens of mangled corpses dragged to a makeshift morgue behind the mosque. They were ordinary Azerbaijani men, women and children of Khojaly, a small village in war-torn Nagorno-Karabakh overrun by Armenian forces on 25-26 February. Many were killed at close range while trying to flee; some had their faces mutilated, others were scalped.''

As part of the Khojaly population that tried to escape, they encountered violent ambushes that led to abuses, torture, mutilation and death. The Russian organization, Memorial, stated that 200 Azerbaijani corpses were brought from Khojaly to Agdam within four days.

Time magazine published the following description: ``While the details are argued, this much is plain: something grim and unconscionable happened in the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly 2 weeks ago. So far, some 200 dead Azerbaijanis, many of them mutilated, have been transported out of the town tucked inside the Armenian-dominated enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh for burial in neighboring Azerbaijan . The total number of deaths--the Azerbaijanis claim 1,324 civilians have been slaughtered, most of them women and children--is unknown.''

The extent of the cruelty of this massacre against women, children and the elderly was unfathomable. Mr. Speaker, Azerbaijan is a strong ally of the United States in an important and complex region of the world. I ask my colleagues to join me and our Azerbaijani friends in commemorating the tragedy that occurred in the town of Khojaly.

01-04-11 - Michael Messmer from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay & Craig Dulniak from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding the request for Ambassador Reha Keskintepe, Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to meet with member

01-07-11 - Michael Messmer from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay & Craig Dulniak from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding the withdrawal of request for Ambassador Reha Keskintepe, due to scheduling constraints

01-12-11 - Michael Messmer from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay & Craig Dulniak from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding the request for Turkish MP and former Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis to meet with member

01-14-11 - Michael Messmer from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Craig Dulniak from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding a follow up to request for Turkish MP and former Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis to meet with member

01-18-11 - Michael Messmer from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Craig Dulniak from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding a follow up to request for Turkish MP and former Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis to meet with member

01-19-11 - Michael Messmer from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Craig Dulniak from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding a follow up to request for Turkish MP and former Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis to meet with member

01-19-11 - Michael Messmer from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP met with Representative Cohen on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding a meeting with Turkish MP and former Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis to discuss US-Turkey relations and regional developments

01-20-11 - Lydia Borland from Caspian Group LLC called Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding U.S.-Turkish relations

01-24-11 - Patton Boggs LLP met with Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Azerbaijan regarding U.S.-Azerbaijan bilateral relations

02-23-11 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Craig Dulniak from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding meeting request for visiting Turkish official - Ceylan and Yenel

02-23-11 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding meeting request for visiting Turkish official

02-25-11 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Craig Dulniak from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding meeting request for visiting Turkish official - Ceylan and Yenel

03-09-11 - Michael Messmer from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding Turkey Caucus

03-21-11 - Michael Messmer from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Craig Dulniak from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding follow-up (on behalf of vacationing Lydia Borland) on request for ambassador Ertan Tezgor, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to meet with member on Holocaust issues

03-29-11 - Michael Messmer from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Craig Dulniak from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding notice that Messmer will not be accompanying Turkish delegation to 3/29 meeting re: Holocaust issues

04-08-11 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding Republic Day resolution

04-14-11 - Christine Rake from Caspian Group LLC met with Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding U.S.-Turkish Relations

04-21-11 - Christine Rake from Caspian Group LLC met with Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding U.S.-Turkish Relations

05-11-11 - Christine Rake from Caspian Group LLC met with Representative Cohen on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding U.S.-Turkish Relations

05-16-11 - Christine Rake from Caspian Group LLC e-mailed Representative Cohen on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding U.S.-Turkish Relations

05-17-11 - Patton Boggs LLP met with Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Azerbaijan regarding U.S.-Azerbaijan bilateral relations

05-23-11 - Christine Rake from Caspian Group LLC e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding U.S.-Turkish Relations

06-13-11 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding Turkish elections

06-14-11 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding Turkish elections

06-16-11 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding Turkish elections

06-16-11 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Reisha Buster from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding Turkish elections

06-17-11 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding elections

06-21-11 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding elections

06-21-11 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Reisha Buster from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding elections

06-27-11 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding destruction of Christian properties resolution

06-27-11 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Reisha Buster from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding destruction of Christian properties resolution

07-28-11 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding H. R. 2597

07-28-11 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group Government Affairs LLP e-mailed Reisha Buster from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding H. R. 2597

09-08-11 - Christine Rake from Caspian Group LLC called Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding U.S.-Turkish Relations

09-19-11 - Patton Boggs LLP met with Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Azerbaijan regarding U.S.-Azerbaijan bilateral relations

02-07-12 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding Armenian resolution

02-29-12 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding MECEA trip

03-06-12 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding Follow up meeting request for parliamentarians

03-07-12 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group e-mailed Craig Dulniak from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding Follow up meeting request for parliamentarians

03-07-12 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding Follow up meeting request for parliamentarians

03-12-12 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group e-mailed Craig Dulniak from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding Follow up request for parliamentarians meeting

03-12-12 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding Follow up request for parliamentarians meeting

06-08-12 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding Cyprus

06-11-12 - Janice O'Connell from Gephardt Group e-mailed Marilyn Dillihay from Representative Cohen's office on behalf of the government of Turkey regarding Meeting Request