Targeted News Service
March 2, 2018 Friday 10:50 PM EST
Rep. Pallone Commemorates 30th Anniversary of Sumgait Pogroms
WASHINGTON
Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following speech, which was published in the Congressional Record on March 1, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Sumgait pogroms:
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Sumgait pogroms, one of the most horrific attacks against the Armenian people committed at the hands of Azerbaijanis.
On February 27, 1988, up to 200 Armenian civilians living in the city of Sumgait in Azerbaijan were indiscriminately killed, raped, maimed, and even burned alive for no reason other than their ethnicity. This senseless violence was instigated by hostile, anti-Armenian rhetoric from Azerbaijani citizens and officials against these innocent individuals.
For three decades, Azerbaijan has taken steps to cover up these crimes against humanity and dismiss the atrocities at Sumgait. Even more disturbing is that perpetrators of these events and similar violent attacks have since been lauded as national heroes.
I condemn these horrific attacks. Tragically, the Azerbaijani government's approach toward the Armenian people has not changed much since these attacks were perpetrated. In 2018, we hear the same violent rhetoric and witness the intimidation tactics by the Azerbaijani government against the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
If we do not condemn crimes against humanity, we only strengthen the resolve of those seeking to perpetrate these crimes in the future. The Armenian people have known this for too long, as we prepare to commemorate the 103rd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in April.
I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Congressional Armenian Issues Caucus to remember the victims of the pogroms at Sumgait and to condemn all acts of violence against people who are targeted simply because of their existence. I hope my colleagues will join me in rejecting violent rhetoric and intimidation by renewing our commitment to achieving a collective and lasting peace.