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Pallone Critical Of U.S. Decision to Abstain From United Nations Committee Vote On Controversial Azeri Resolution

October 27, 2004

Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, today criticized the Bush Administration's decision to abstain from a United Nations committee vote on a controversial Azeri resolution calling for the removal of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. The resolution was approved today by the U.N. General Committee and is now able to be brought before the U.N. General Assembly.

"I am deeply disappointed in the United States' decision to abstain from this vote," Pallone said. "This mean-spirited resolution by the Azeri government threatens to destabilize peace talks in the region. If we are truly committed to finding a lasting solution to the NKR conflict then we need to take a stronger stance."

In a letter written yesterday, prior to the committee vote, to U.N. Ambassador John Danforth, Pallone urged the U.S. to vote against the resolution and to condemn the Azeri government for threatening peace and stability in the region.

"I can't stress enough, the crucial role that the United States plays in the negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh, to help the people of this region find a lasting and equitable peace," Pallone wrote in the letter to Ambassador Danforth. "A failure on our part to forcefully and publicly confront the Azerbaijani government over these destabilizing maneuvers would, in my view, send extremely dangerous signals to Azerbaijan. These desperate tactics by Azerbaijan undermine our efforts and seriously complicate our diplomacy in the region. "

The New Jersey congressman is now working to gain support for an Armenian Caucus letter to President Bush urging that the United States oppose the resolution if it is brought before the U.N. General Assembly.

Text of Pallone's letter to Ambassador Danforth follows.

October 26, 2004

United States Mission to the United Nations

140 East 45th Street

New York, NY 10017

Dear Ambassador Danforth,

I write to you today to urge your immediate action against a troubling move by the government of Azerbaijan, which threatens the stability of the Transcaucuses region, and jeopardizes the cease fire that was established in the Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan conflict nearly a decade ago. Recently, the Azeri representative to the United Nations, Yashar Aliyev, sent a request to the U.N General Committee asking for the consideration of a disturbing resolution regarding the "situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan." If the United States does not act swiftly to stop the adoption of this resolution, the measure can negatively affect the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

I can't stress enough, the crucial role that the United States plays in the negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh, to help the people of this region find a lasting and equitable peace. A failure on our part to forcefully and publicly confront the Azerbaijani government over these destabilizing maneuvers would, in my view, send extremely dangerous signals to Azerbaijan. These desperate tactics by Azerbaijan undermine our efforts and seriously complicate our diplomacy in the region.

I hope that the United States will vote against this resolution when it is considered in the U.N. General Committee, and by doing so, condemn such actions by Azerbaijan, further ensuring that all parties involved in this conflict make a genuine commitment towards peace and stability.

Sincerely,

FRANK PALLONE, JR.

Member of Congress

cc: Ambassador Steve Mann