IV 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1196 
Calling for an end to escalating violence in the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, 
for each side to return to the peace process, and for external parties 
to cease their support for and interference in the conflict. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 16, 2020 
Mr. KEATING submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Calling for an end to escalating violence in the Nagorno- 
Karabakh enclave, for each side to return to the peace 
process, and for external parties to cease their support 
for and interference in the conflict. 
Whereas, on September 27, 2020, the most significant out-
break of violence since the signing of the 1994 cease-fire 
agreement began across the line of contact in Nagorno- 
Karabakh between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces; 
Whereas military operations by each side have included the 
exchange of air strikes, rocket attacks, and artillery fire, 
resulting in the deaths of soldiers and civilians, the 
wounding of hundreds more, and causing needless suf-
fering to families and communities in the conflict zone; 
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•HRES 1196 IH 
Whereas both Armenia and Azerbaijan have declared martial 
law, mobilized their armed forces, and called up reserve 
forces, further escalating tensions; 
Whereas the conflict has the potential to escalate into proxy 
warfare among regional powers, including Turkey and 
Russia, which would further entrench the conflict, in-
crease risk of civilian harm, and threaten long-term peace 
and stability in the region; 
Whereas Russia maintains close economic ties to both Arme-
nia and Azerbaijan and provides weapons, other support, 
and military guarantees to Armenia, which is a member 
of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organiza-
tion (CSTO); 
Whereas the United States serves as a neutral co-chair of the 
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe 
(OSCE) Minsk Group, along with France and Russia, 
and the Presidents of the Co-Chair countries have urged 
the parties to return to a ceasefire and substantive nego-
tiations as soon as possible; 
Whereas the United States remains committed to working 
with each side through the OSCE Minsk Group to settle 
the conflict peacefully and sustainably; 
Whereas both Azerbaijan and Armenia are North Atlantic 
Treaty Organization (NATO) Partnership for Peace 
countries, which made a commitment to increase sta-
bility, diminish threats to peace, and build strengthened 
security relationships among NATO and non-member 
countries in the Euro-Atlantic area; and 
Whereas a long-standing conflict like the one between Arme-
nia and Azerbaijan must be solved through a political 
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•HRES 1196 IH 
process rather than military aggression: Now, therefore, 
be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) expresses alarm at the escalating violence 
that has resulted in the tragic loss of life in 
Nagorno-Karabakh; 
(2) calls on leaders in Armenia and Azerbaijan 
to immediately de-escalate the situation, end hos-
tilities, utilize the Organization for Security and Co- 
operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group process 
instead of military means and return to the cease- 
fire agreement along the line of contact between 
Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan, and protect the 
human rights of those in the area in order to pre-
vent even further loss of life; 
(3) calls on each country to renew its commit-
ment to the OSCE Minsk Group process and recog-
nize that dialogue, not violence, is the only way to 
bring a comprehensive and enduring peace to the re-
gion; 
(4) reaffirms United States support for OSCE 
Minsk Group efforts to secure an agreement from 
Armenia and Azerbaijan to cease offensive military 
operations in Nagorno-Karabakh and to accept inde-
pendent third-party monitoring along the line of con-
tact; and 
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