ON THE OCCASION OF THE 18TH ANNIVERSARY
 OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH FREEDOM
MOVEMENT

______


HON. MICHAEL R. McNULTY

of New York

in the house of representatives

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I join today with many of my colleagues in
extending my congratulations to the people of Nagorno Karabakh on the
anniversary of the Nagorno Karabakh Freedom Movement.
On February 20, 1988, the people of Nagorno Karabakh officially
petitioned the Soviet government to reunite with Armenia and reverse
the injustice perpetrated by the Soviet dictator, Joseph Stalin.
This peaceful and legal request was met with violent reaction by the
Soviet and Azerbaijani leadership, and escalated into full military
aggression against Nagorno Karabakh. The people of Nagorno Karabakh
bravely defended their right to live in freedom on their ancestral land.
Today, Nagorno Karabakh continues to strengthen its statehood with a
democratically elected government, a capable defense force, and an
independent foreign policy.
I stand with the people of Nagorno Karabakh in celebrating their
continuing freedom and democracy.