Rhode Island House supports NKR recognition
Published: Saturday May 19, 2012
Providence - On May 17, 2012, the Rhode Island House of Representatives passed a resolution introduced by Representatives Fox, Mattiello, Corvese, McNamara, and Bennett that calls on the U.S. President and Congress to recognize the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The resolution also encouraged the republic's "continued efforts to develop as a free and independent nation," and praised Artsakh's "constructive involvement with the international community and its efforts to reach a lasting solution to the existing regional problems."
"I thank the Rhode Island House for passing this resolution in support of Karabakh's aspirations for freedom, and hope that the legislature's commitment to our shared values of human rights and justice will set an example for other legislatures in the U.S. and beyond," said NKR representative Robert Avetisyan.
The resolution was voted on the House floor in the presence of Artsakh Representative and a delegation from the local Armenian community: Chairman of the Armenian Cultural Association of R.I. Hagop Donoyan, youth advisor to the AYF of R.I. Levon Attarian, member of the board of trustees of the Sts. Vartanantz Church Stephen Elmasian, and member of the ARF Eastern U.S. Central Committee Ani Haroian.
Almost concurrently, on U.S. Capitol Hill, Representatives James Langevin (D-R.I.) and David Cicilline (D-R.I.) made statements on the House floor in support of the people of Artsakh. U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), in turn, issued statements.
"It is more important than ever that the United States maintain a principled stand for peace in this region, show that democracy can be born from conflict, and support Nagorno-Karabakh," said Representative Langevin. "It is my sincerest hope that Nagorno-Karabakh's right to self-determination can be affirmed without further loss of life."
"20 years ago, the people of Nagorno Karabakh fought and died for their independence from Soviet Azeri repression and discrimination," said Representative Cicilline. "I join the people of Nagorno Karabakh today in recognizing the 20th anniversary of their independence and the formation of the Republic's Army, and the liberation of Shushi." Representative Cicilline also referred to the resolution of the R.I. State House of Representatives on supporting the NKR's independence . (See the video of the statement at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9vnm6QsCAv4 )
Meanwhile, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee proposed in its Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill to provide "at least" $5 million for assistance to humanitarian and development programs in Nagorno Karabakh. The Committee also restated the importance of confidence-building measures and urged "all parties (to the NK conflict) to refrain from threats of violence."
"We are deeply grateful to our congressional friends for their continuing support of Artsakh on its path towards strengthening freedom, democracy and economic prosperity", said NKR Representative.
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The full text of the R.I. House resolution appears below. You can also find it on the Rhode Island House of Representatives webpage at: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/billtext12/housetext12/h8180.pdf
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2012 -- H 8180
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LC02637
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
SUPPORTING THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH REPUBLIC'S EFFORTS TO DEVELOP AS A FREE AND INDEPENDENT NATION
Introduced By: Representatives Fox, Mattiello, Corvese, McNamara, and Bennett
Date Introduced: May 17, 2012
Referred To: House read and passed
WHEREAS, The Region of Artsakh, also known as Mountainous Karabagh, is located in the Transcaucasus and has historically been Armenian territory, populated by an overwhelming majority of Armenians; and
WHEREAS, In 1923, the communist dictatorship of Joseph Stalin, in violation of the national, territorial, and human rights of the Armenian people, annexed part of the region of Artsakh which was composed of a 95 percent Armenian population, and joined it with the region of Soviet Azerbaijan; and
WHEREAS, For decades, Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, having arbitrarily been severed from Armenia and forced under Soviet Azerbaijani administration, peacefully demonstrated for national independence and individual freedom and against Soviet Azerbaijani repression and discrimination; and
WHEREAS, In the years immediately preceding the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic's declaration of independence, these peaceful demonstrations were met with acts of violent repression by Soviet Azerbaijani forces who refused to allow the reestablishment of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh's national independence; and
WHEREAS, During the repressive and violent events leading to the birth of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, ethnic Armenians were killed in Sumgait (February, 1988), Kirovabad (November, 1988), and Baku (January, 1990), by Soviet Azerbaijani forces. Over 350,000 Armenians were forcibly deported from Azerbaijan; and
WHEREAS, In July of 1988, within months of the Sumgait tragedy, the United States Senate unanimously passed Amendment 2690 to the Fiscal Year 1989 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill (H.R. 4782), concerning the Karabakh conflict and calling on the Soviet government to "respect the legitimate aspirations of the Armenian people ..." and noted that "dozens of Armenians have been killed and hundreds injured during the recent unrests ..."; and
WHEREAS, The Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh would not be deterred and would not allow their dream of national independence, and their inherent desire for individual freedom, to be destroyed by violence and repression; and
WHEREAS, On December 10th of 1991, despite continued violence against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, a popular referendum proclaiming the republic took place in Nagorno-Karabakh during the process of the Soviet Union disintegration; and
WHEREAS, Under the watchful eye of more than 50 international observers and in full compliance with international standards for free and fair elections, more than 80 percent of the eligible voters in Nagorno-Karabakh cast a ballot. Ninety-eight percent of those casting ballots overwhelmingly chose national independence and individual freedom, thereby choosing the path of democracy after decades of communist control; and
WHEREAS, The population of Nagorno-Karabakh then held free, democratic, and direct elections for its parliament; and
WHEREAS, On January 6th of 1992, the first-ever freely elected Parliament of Nagorno-Karabakh adopted a Declaration of Independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; and
WHEREAS, From the earliest days of its formation, the Republic's freely elected governmental bodies have continuously striven to build an open and democratic society through free and transparent elections, affirmed by international observers; and
WHEREAS, Since signing a cease-fire agreement with Azerbaijan in 1994, after three years of armed conflict, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic registered significant progress in post-war humanitarian and economic development; and
WHEREAS, Despite the 1994 cease-fire agreement, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic's security and sovereignty continue to be threatened by regional tension and hostile acts; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby encourages the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic's continuing efforts to develop as a free and independent nation in order to guarantee its citizens those rights inherent in a free and independent society; and be it further
RESOLVED, That this House hereby supports the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic's continued constructive involvement with the international community and its efforts to reach a lasting solution to the existing regional problems, and to establish peace and stability in the strategically important region of South Caucasus; and be it further
RESOLVED, That this House hereby respectfully urges the President and Congress of the United States of America to recognize the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and to encourage nations neighboring the Republic to foster and maintain peaceful relations with the people of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. We furthermore urge our country's leaders to continue promoting humanitarian and economic rehabilitation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and to fully support its continuing development of a free and democratic society, with all the social, economic, and political advantages that such a free and democratic society brings to its citizens; and be it further
RESOLVED, That this House hereby memorializes the United States of America to support strengthening and solidifying our country's relationship with the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and its citizens, both culturally and economically, to insure the continued survival of this nation's burgeoning growth of freedom and democracy; and be it furthe
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the President of the United States and to Rhode Island's Congressional Delegation.