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For Immediate Release
January 6, 2016
Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), hosted a briefing from Ambassador James Warlick, U.S. Special Envoy to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, on the recent escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and steps the U.S. is considering to promote peace in the region.
Following the briefing, Chairman Royce said:
“Violence in the Nagorno-Karabakh region is at the highest point in decades. Just last month we heard reports of heavy weapon attacks and tank artillery fire – a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement. As Ambassador Warlick has said, this isn’t a ‘frozen conflict,’ but is a forgotten conflict – with a real risk of spinning out of control. That is why we need all snipers to be withdrawn, more international monitors to be deployed and gunfire locator systems to be put in place to increase transparency and accountability for each and every cross-boundary violation. Acts of aggression must be clearly condemned. The faster the administration can help put these in place, the quicker it can help put an end to the killing and avert war.”
Note: In October, more than 80 members joined Chairman Royce in a bipartisan letter to Ambassador Warlick to offer proposals to help maintain the ceasefire and bring a peaceful resolution to the conflict. A copy of the letter is available HERE.
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