TITLE: Commemorating the 21st anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre in Azerbaijan.

SUMMARY: Commemorating the 21st anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre in Azerbaijan.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, February 26, 2013, marks the 21st anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre in Azerbaijan, and the observance of this somber date inspires reflection by individuals across the globe; and WHEREAS, On February 25 and 26, 1992, Armenian armed forces, accompanied by Russian military troops, occupied the town of Khojaly as part of the bitter warfare that had been taking place in the Nagorno-Karabakh region since 1988; and WHEREAS, When a large group of Azerbaijani civilians attempted to evacuate the area, they were fired on by the Armenian and Russian soldiers, resulting in the largest massacre of that bloody conflict; estimates of the exact number of people killed vary from 160 to as many as 1,000, with many women and children among the dead; and WHEREAS, The massacre was reported by major news organizations and has been viewed by the Human Rights Watch/Helsinki organization as a violation of customary law regarding the treatment of civilians in war zones; moreover, numerous governments around the world have condemned the attack; and WHEREAS, This tragic event is a sobering reminder of the terrible carnage that can be inflicted in wartime and the enduring need for greater understanding, communication, and tolerance among people the world over; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the 21st anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre in Azerbaijan. Vo Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 565 was adopted by the House on March 7, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House