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Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, gave the following statement last night on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives recognizing the plight of displaced persons in Nagorno-Karabakh, and calling for the U.N. to provide them aid:
"Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the problem of internally displaced persons in Nagorno-Karabakh. The situation is disheartening because aid is needed and, unfortunately, the United Nations refuses to allow its organizations like UNHCR and UNICEF to operate in the country, largely due to Azerbaijan’s opposition.
Because internally displaced persons remain within the borders of their home country, primary responsibility for protecting and assisting them rests with their national authorities. However, I strongly believe there is also a responsibility that lies with the United States and the international community to bring rightful attention to this issue and consider ways to ease and eventually end the plight of these displaced individuals.
In late 1980s and early 1990s, as the Soviet Union was collapsing, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh made a peaceful request to reunite with Armenia, from which they were arbitrarily separated by Joseph Stalin in 1921. Azerbaijan responded with a campaign of ethnic cleansing and full-scale military attack on Nagorno-Karabakh.
As a result of Azerbaijan’s aggression, 30,000 people died and hundreds of thousands fled the region. About 36,000 Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan and some 71,000 displaced ethnic Armenians now reside in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Though the fighting has ended, cease-fire violations continue and the victims are still suffering. IDPs still face hardships including lack of economic opportunity and inadequate shelter.
Refugees and displaced individuals and families deserve humanitarian support, independent of their location. However, those in Nagorno-Karabakh have not received adequate international assistance. The International Committee of the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders are the only major international organizations operating in Nagorno-Karabakh. Besides Armenia, the United States is the only other government providing them aid.
Recognizing the ongoing need for humanitarian assistance, the US Congress has provided funds to Nagorno-Karabakh since 1998. Through various organizations, USAID has implemented critical projects, including the construction of homes, improved access to water supplies and school reconstruction. Although these programs have helped improve living conditions, much more is still needed.
Mr. Speaker, the UN refuses to operate in Karabakh and does not send aid or organizations, like UNHCR and UNICEF, there for assistance. The reason given by the UN is that they do not work in "politically unrecognized" territories. Yet, it is my understanding that there are several other disputed territories where the United Nations currently operates.
For example, the UN has been providing assistance to refugees in the West Bank and Gaza since 1950. In fact, the UN created a specific organization, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, to help Palestinian refugees. They also have undertaken work in other unrecognized or disputed areas including Kosovo, Somaliland, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria. The Karabakh authorities have made repeated requests for help to the UN for assistance, but have been unsuccessful.
UN’s refusal to work in Karabakh is unfair and hard to comprehend, since the UN has been providing substantial assistance to refugees and IDPs residing in Armenia and Azerbaijan, while overlooking the needs of similar groups residing in Karabakh.
It is encouraging that the United States is committed to finding a peaceful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis, but as Members of Congress we must provide the leadership necessary for the United Nations and other relevant organizations to find ways to support these refugees and IDPs. I plan to send a letter urging the UN to reconsider its misguided policies that are depriving suffering people in Karabakh of urgently needed humanitarian assistance. I hope that my colleagues will join me in this effort." |
