U.S. Congressman makes statement on Khojaly tragedy
Co-chairman of the working group on Azerbaijan in the U.S.
Congress, Congressman Steve Cohen from Tennessee has made a
statement on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the Khojaly
tragedy which resulted with the death of hundreds of innocent
people.
The statement says that despite the fact that the two countries
have signed a ceasefire agreement more than 20 years ago, 20 per
cent of the Azerbaijani territories including the Nagorno-Karabakh
and seven adjacent regions are still under the Armenian occupation,
more than a million Azerbaijanis were displaced from their
homes.
The statement notes that although Azerbaijan suffers from a very
tough neighborhood, the country is a very strong partner of the
U.S. and its allies in a number of issues, including the security
and energy ones.
Steve Cohen hails Azerbaijan`s important contribution to the
international peacekeeping operations, in particular to NATO
operations in Afghanistan.
The Congressman also hails Azerbaijan`s leading role in the
construction of the Southern gas corridor which will constitute a
significant alternative in terms of natural gas supply for the
European countries, saying the country ensures about 40 per cent of
Israel`s oil consumption.
Mr. Cohen stresses the importance of the United States` active
supporting the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
at a time when the world Azerbaijanis commemorate the victims of
the Khojaly tragedy.
The congressman also attended the commemorative ceremony on the
occasion of the 24th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide held at
the U.S. Congress.
---
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz