Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the RECORD the following letter on Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Process:
Washington, DC,
April 4, 2001.
Hon. COLIN POWELL
Secretary of State, Department of State,
Washington, DC.
DEAR SECRETARY POWELL:
As a representative of the largest Armenian community outside of Armenia, I am very interested in the recent developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, as well as U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and the economic well being of the Republic of Armenia.
Your personal attendance at the talks on Nagorno-Karabakh in Key West, Florida is an indication of the Administration's interest in the region.
I fully agree with your statement expressing our country's commitment to facilitating a mutually acceptable settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. While a lasting peace will serve as a stabilizing force in the Caucasus, I sincerely hope that the history of this region will be an important factor in determining outcomes.
In his attempt to fortify his iron grip over a multiethnic and multicultural society that was the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin redrew the map of the region to weaken the indigenous populations by carving up ethnically homogeneous republics into unrecognizable autonomous and semi-autonomous regions, such as Nagorno-Karabakh, Nakhichevan and Javakh, all historically Armenian.
The Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks may be our opportunity to correct one of the many historical injustices committed by Stalin.
As a member of the House International Relations Committee, I would greatly appreciate an opportunity to meet with you in the near future to discuss the Administration's policy vis-a-vis the Caucasus. I look forward to hearing from your office regarding a meeting and look forward to working with you on foreign policy issues in the years to come.
Sincerely,
Adam B. Schiff