POLITICS
House of Representatives of Arkansas recognizes Khojaly Massacre and importance of U.S.-Azerbaijani relations
Washington, February 11 (AZERTAC). On February 8, Arkansas House of Representatives formally recognized Khojaly Massacre. The House Resolution HR1004 recognizing the mass killing of Azerbaijani civilians was introduced to the lower chamber of the state legislature by Congressman Jonathan Barnett and Congresswoman Karen Hopper. The document speaks about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and war unleashed on Azerbaijan by Armenia since 1988. The authors of the bill underlined that the killings constitute “…the largest massacre of that bloody conflict; 163 people were killed, with many women and children among the dead.” The bill reiterates the position of the Human Rights Watch on the massacre, stating that it was viewed “as a violation of customary law regarding treatment of civilians in war zones.” Furthermore, the resolution highlights the fact that “the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United States of America are long-standing allies, both dearly cherishing the universal values of freedom, democracy, and human rights” and that “the State of Arkansas and the Republic of Azerbaijan enjoy a strong, vibrant, and mutually beneficial economic relationship with the prospect of further growth.” With this bill, the members of the House of Representatives also acknowledged “the many contributions made by the citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan” and stated that it was in the best interest of the State of Arkansas to promote relationship with Azerbaijan.