Azerbaijan

Floor Speech

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Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express deep concern over the recent surge in hostilities along the front line between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

This outbreak of violence has claimed dozens of lives on both sides.

The recent violent clashes followed a successful visit to the U.S. by President Aliyev of Azerbaijan, which included meetings with Vice President Biden and Secretary of State Kerry, as both reaffirmed U.S. support for expanding ties with Azerbaijan, a reliable strategic partner in a tough neighborhood.

Given Russia's apprehension with the strategic Southern Gas Corridor project championed by Azerbaijan and providing energy security for our allies in Europe, and Azerbaijan's security alliance with the United States, this latest upsurge in fighting is a another sign of Moscow's meddling in the affairs of states along its borders.

As we've seen in Eastern Ukraine and Georgia, Russia continues to exploit separatist movements along its periphery to pressure America's friends and bring them back into its orbit.

Unfortunately, it's not the first time that Armenia--the Kremlin's key regional ally and the host to a number of Russian military bases-- is being used as a proxy to intimidate U.S. partners, including Azerbaijan and Georgia.

As the latest loss of life shows, Armenia's nearly complete economic, political and military dependence on Russia no longer is a threat to its neighbors alone--it's a security challenge to Armenia itself.

These latest hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia once again remind us of the urgency to find a peaceful solution to the protracted Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

I urge the Administration to step up its efforts to achieve a peaceful solution and work with both sides to stabilize the situation.

Meanwhile, in the face of increasing Russian interference and aggression against its neighbors, the United States should remain steadfast in its support for our friends in Azerbaijan.

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