Asking Administration to Urge a U.S. Vote Against Azerbaijan's U.N. Resolution

ASKING ADMINISTRATION TO URGE A U.S. VOTE AGAINST AZERBAIJAN'S U.N. RESOLUTION -- (House of Representatives - November 19, 2004)

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to bring to our attention Azerbaijan's recent introduction of an ill-advised United Nations General Assembly resolution regarding what Azerbaijan erroneously refers to as "the situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan."

This intentionally disruptive resolution directly and significantly threatens efforts towards a peaceful settlement over the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. Furthermore, it jeopardizes the principles and procedures of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and specifically the Minsk Group mediation effort, co-chaired by the United States, France and Russia, to resolve the Karabagh conflict.

Azerbaijan's proposal represents a hostile declaration against the entire peace process, aimed only at fostering increased divisiveness. Its consideration can only set back the cause of peace.

Mr. Speaker, it is disturbing to note that this resolution was recently approved to be included on the U.N. General Assembly's agenda. Even more alarming is the fact that the United States has thus far failed to compellingly address the resolution, choosing to instead abstain from every vote in which they had an opportunity to halt the advancement of this destructive measure. This failure by the administration now has the potential to undermine U.S. interests and American values in the strategically important Caucasus region.

Mr. Speaker, the vital role the United States plays as an honest broker in the Nagorno-Karabagh peace process is gravely threatened by the administration's continued lack of decisive action. Given our commitment to keeping the parties talking and moving forward, it is necessary for the U.S. to act forcefully against destabilizing steps that will unravel the peace process. Our interests are best served by the continuation of dialogue on the outstanding issues related to Nagorno-Karabagh within the OSCE framework and not by the fragmentation of this orderly process.

Since the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict, Armenia has been committed to finding a peaceful solution. Moreover, I cannot stress enough the crucial role that the U.S. plays in the negotiations over Nagorno-Karabagh to help the people of this region find a lasting and equitable peace. These actions by Azerbaijan subvert these efforts and seriously complicate our diplomacy in the Caucasus region. A failure on our part to forcefully and publicly confront the Azerbaijani government over these destabilizing maneuvers would send extremely dangerous signals to Azerbaijan.

Mr. Speaker, the U.S. must take action to condemn Azerbaijan's desperate acts of destructive venue shopping, and we here in this Chamber must do everything that we can to ensure that all parties involved in this conflict make a genuine commitment towards peace and stability. Action on the part of the U.S. must go further than the OSCE joint statement that was released in which the members of the Minsk Group expressed their concern and opposition towards the Azeri resolution. Beyond merely releasing a statement, the U.S. must demonstrate its views by taking a stance and voting against this measure.

I urge the U.S. to forcefully renounce this proposal, secure its retraction and impress upon the Azerbaijani government that it should drop such counterproductive tactics in favor of serious and lasting commitment to the OSCE Minsk Group process.

The OSCE Minsk Group process cannot survive Azerbaijan's destabilizing tactics. Continued tampering with this process will inevitably produce a chain reaction resulting in its demise. We cannot afford to allow Azerbaijan to continue to disrupt the work of the OSCE, which, as my colleagues know, has been recognized by the U.N. itself as the lead arbiter in this conflict.

Finally, it is time for the U.S. to be more forceful with Azerbaijan and to make clear that their tactics are not helpful to a peaceful and just resolution of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. Once again, it is imperative, Mr. Speaker, for the U.S. to vote against this U.N. resolution, thereby clearly demonstrating that there are serious consequences to actions that disturb the regional Caucasus peace, security and prosperity.