Bill Text: MS SR4 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urge President and United States Congress to assist the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2014-04-02 - Died In Committee [SR4 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-SR4-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Horhn
Senate Resolution 4
A RESOLUTION URGING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ASSIST THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN IN ASSERTING ITS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY.
WHEREAS, the Republic of Azerbaijan is a strategic economic partner of the United States and the State of Mississippi in the important South Caucasus region bordering Iran, Russia and Central Asia. Over the past 20 years the United States and the Republic of Azerbaijan expanded their partnership and developed multifaceted cooperation ranging from energy security, international terrorism, and drug and human trafficking to nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction; and
WHEREAS, the United States supports independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. United States Secretary of State John Kerry stated on June 3, 2013, "Azerbaijan has been an important partner in Afghanistan, in ISAF, and equally important with respect to the northern distribution route but also the southern gas line and other issues that are of great importance to us. Over the past decade Azerbaijan succeeded in rebuilding its economy with its Gross Domestic Product tripled, and is currently one of the rapidly developing economies globally, accounting for 80% of the Gross Domestic Product of the South Caucasus region and is the biggest U.S. trade partner in the South Caucasus. Azerbaijan initiated a number of strategically important trans-regional energy and transportation projects like Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Gas Pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway that contribute to the prosperity of Azerbaijan and of the region; and
WHEREAS, over the past two years the following Mississippi legislators have met with Azerbaijani Dignitaries: Senators Lydia Chassaniol, Sally Doty, Hillman Frazier, Albert Butler, Kelvin Butler, John Horhn and Robert Jackson, and Representatives Linda Coleman, Adrian Wooten, Sonya Barnes-Williams, Hank Zuber, Jeffrey Guice, Randy Boyd, Kimberly Campbell, Kelvin Buck and Greg Holloway. Azerbaijani Dignitaries with whom Mississippi legislators have met include: Rovnag Abdullayev, President and CEO, State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR); Shahmar Movsumov, President, State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan; Samir Sharifov, Minister of Finance; Samad Seyidov, Chair, Committee on Foreign Affairs at Azerbaijan Parliament; Hafiz Pashayev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Elchin Guliyev, Minister of National Security and Commander of Border Service; and
WHEREAS, despite these positive developments persistent protracted conflicts in the South Caucasus, including the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, continue to threaten regional peace and stability and impede further development of regional cooperation for the benefit of all three countries of the South Caucasus; and
WHEREAS, the Nagorno-Karabakh War, lasting from 1988 to 1994, was a conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. To this day the Conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia continues, with Armenian forces occupying 20% of Azerbaijan's territory, including the Nagorno Karabakh Region and surrounding seven districts. Resolutions condemning the occupation of Azerbaijan's territory by Armenian forces have been passed by the United National Security Council and General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, February 26, 2014, marks the 22nd Anniversary of the Khojaly Tragedy. This tragic event is a sobering reminder of the terrible carnage that can be inflicted in wartime and the enduring need for greater understanding, communication and tolerance among people the world over; and
WHEREAS, United States President Barack Obama on August 5, 2013, appointed Ambassador James Warlick as the next United States Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. The international community, including NATO and such international organizations as the United Nations, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement reaffirmed support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and recognized that the Conflict should be resolved on the basis of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the Mississippi Legislature:
(a) Supports the strategic economic partnership between the United States, the State of Mississippi and the Republic of Azerbaijan; and
(b) Urges the U.S. Administration to reinvigorate efforts aimed at the earliest fair political settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That duly authenticated copies of this resolution shall be transmitted to the President of the United States, members of the Mississippi Congressional Delegation, the United States Department of State, and the United States Ambassador to Azerbaijan, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
