Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman. Recently, before our committee, representatives of the State Department claimed that the first aid program within the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh would be established within the next few weeks. We appropriated that money for a fiscal year that began October 1, and I wish that they had acted more expeditiously. I share in my colleague's concern to ensure that the $12.5 million goes to where it is supposed to go, where we appropriated it; that is to the victims of the war who are currently within the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh. Unfortunately, as the gentleman knows, our government chooses not to recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh. We joined the foreign minister of Nagorno-Karabakh just a few days ago in recognizing the tenth anniversary of the independence of that nation, a nation that fought for its independence just as we in the United States did; a nation whose government reflects the desire for independence that the vast majority of its people share, and a government that I hope will be recognized by the United States. I know that American oil companies are very anxious to see peace in that part of the world, to make sure that oil can be drilled for and obtained and that pipelines can be built. But the best route for those pipelines is through a peaceful Caucasus, and peace will arrive in the Caucasus when the rights of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh are recognized. I yield back to the gentleman.”