Title: 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.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution calls on leaders in Azerbaijan and Armenia to de-escalate the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed region also known as Artsakh, and urges external parties to refrain from participation in the conflict. The resolution reaffirms U.S. support for efforts to secure an agreement to cease military operations in Nagorno-Karabakh.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1196 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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 outbreak 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 suffering to families and communities in the conflict zone;
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, increase risk of civilian harm, and threaten 
        long-term peace and stability in the region;
Whereas Russia maintains close economic ties to both Armenia and Azerbaijan and 
        provides weapons, other support, and military guarantees to Armenia, 
        which is a member of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty 
        Organization (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 negotiations 
        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 stability, 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 Armenia and Azerbaijan 
        must be solved through a political 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 hostilities, 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 prevent even further loss of life;
            (3) calls on each country to renew its commitment to the 
        OSCE Minsk Group process and recognize that dialogue, not 
        violence, is the only way to bring a comprehensive and enduring 
        peace to the region;
            (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 independent third-party monitoring along the line of 
        contact; and
            (5) calls on all external parties to refrain from providing 
        military and other support to either side, which merely 
        inflames hostilities and further jeopardizes regional peace and 
        stability, including the recent destabilizing rhetoric of 
        President Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish military.
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