IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 697 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives supporting visits and 
communication between the United States and the Republic of Artsakh 
at all levels of civil society and government. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 17, 2018 
Mr. PALLONE submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives sup-
porting visits and communication between the United 
States and the Republic of Artsakh at all levels of civil 
society and government. 
Whereas peace, stability, and democracy in the Caucasus re-
gion are in the political, security, and economic interests 
of the United States and are matters of international 
concern; 
Whereas the United States considers any effort to determine 
the future of the Republic of Artsakh, formerly the Re-
public of Nagorno-Karabakh, by other than peaceful 
means, including acts of aggression, blockades, or threats 
against civil aviation, a threat to peace; 
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•HRES 697 IH 
Whereas the United States remains committed to the Organi-
zation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) 
Minsk Group negotiations toward a durable and demo-
cratic resolution of outstanding status and security issues 
related to the Artsakh Republic; 
Whereas the Artsakh Republic was one of three parties to the 
1994 cease-fire that ended major military hostilities be-
tween Artsakh and Azerbaijan, and remains committed to 
a negotiated, non-violent resolution; 
Whereas the Artsakh Republic took part in OSCE negotia-
tions until 1998, when, at Azerbaijan’s insistence, the 
OSCE blocked its democratically elected representatives 
from full and direct participation in negotiations regard-
ing its future status and security; 
Whereas the Artsakh Republic has developed democratic in-
stitutions, fostered a pluralist political system, and, over 
the past quarter century, held parliamentary and Presi-
dential elections that have been rated as free and fair by 
international observers; 
Whereas the Artsakh Republic, along with the United States, 
Armenia, and the OSCE, support cease-fire monitoring 
proposals to strengthen the 1994 cease-fire, including— 
(1) an agreement from all sides to not deploy snip-
ers, heavy arms, or new weaponry along the line of con-
tact; 
(2) the placement of OSCE-monitored, advanced 
gunfire-locator systems and sound-ranging equipment to 
determine the source of attacks along the line of contact; 
and 
(3) the deployment of additional OSCE observers 
along the line of contact to better monitor the cease-fire; 
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•HRES 697 IH 
Whereas the United States since fiscal year 1998 has pro-
vided over $45 million to the victims of the Artsakh-Azer-
baijan conflict, including projects to deliver maternal 
healthcare, provide clean drinking water, and clear mine-
fields in Artsakh, with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson 
stating that the United States remains ‘‘focused on com-
pleting demining as quickly and as thoroughly as pos-
sible’’; 
Whereas current Department of State policies and practices 
place self-imposed restrictions on travel and communica-
tions between the United States and Artsakh, limiting 
oversight of United States taxpayer-funded assistance 
programs and discouraging the open dialogue and dis-
course that can contribute to a peaceful resolution of 
Artsakh-related status and security issues; and 
Whereas open dialogue and communications contribute to 
greater international understanding and facilitate more 
effective conflict resolution: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) affirms its commitment to supporting ac-
tions that encourage visits and communication be-
tween officials from the United States and Artsakh 
at all levels, including cabinet-level national security 
officials, general officers, and other executive branch 
officials, to travel to Artsakh and openly and directly 
communicate with their Artsakh counterparts; 
(2) encourages open communication, meetings, 
and other direct contacts between officials of 
Artsakh and the executive and legislative branches 
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