BILL ANALYSIS �
AJR 32
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 5, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES
Richard S. Gordon, Chair
AJR 32 (Gatto) - As Amended: April 28, 2014
SUBJECT : The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
SUMMARY : Encourages and supports the Nagorno-Karabakh regions
continuing efforts to develop as a free and independent nation, and
urges the President and Congress of the United States to support the
self-determination and democratic independence of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and its constructive involvement with the
international community's efforts to reach a just and lasting
solution to security issues in that strategically important region.
Specifically, this resolution makes the following legislative
findings :
1)Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, has historically been
Armenian territory, populated by an overwhelming majority of
Armenians, and yet was illegally severed from Armenia by the
Soviet Union in 1921 and placed under the newly created Soviet
Azerbaijani administration.
2)February 20, 1988, marked the beginning of the national liberation
movement in Nagorno-Karabakh, which inspired people throughout the
Soviet Union to stand up against tyranny for their rights and
freedoms, helping to bring democracy to millions and contributing
to world peace.
3)The United States Congress has repeatedly expressed support for
the legitimate aspirations for freedom of the people of
Nagorno-Karabakh, and on September 2, 1991, in accordance with its
enacted law, the legislature of Nagorno-Karabakh declared
formation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
4)On December 10, 1991, the people of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
voted in favor of independence, and on January 6, 1992, the
democratically elected legislature of the republic formally
declared independence.
5)Since proclaiming independence, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has
registered significant progress in democracy building, which was
most recently demonstrated during the July 19, 2012, presidential
elections that were assessed by international observers as free
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and transparent.
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS :
1)Background : The Nagorno-Karabakh region is located in the South
Caucasus within Azerbaijan and is governed by the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic, a de facto independent state that has controlled the
region since a Russian brokered truce and ceasefire in 1994. Since
then, both sides have had soldiers killed in sporadic breaches of
the ceasefire. The Government of Azerbaijan resents the loss of
land they regard as rightfully theirs while the ethnically
Armenian majority-population of the Nagorno-Karabakh region show
no sign of willingness to give it back. Despite efforts by the
international community to resolve the dispute, a precarious
stalemate persists. AJR 32 would support and urge the President
and Congress to support Nagorno-Karabakh's efforts to develop an
independent nation.
2)Arguments in Support : The Armenian Council of America argues:
"The Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) is an
integral part of historic Armenia that was arbitrarily
carved out in 1921 by Joseph Stalin and placed under
Soviet Azerbaijani administration, but with autonomous
status, as part of the Soviet divide-and-conquer
strategy in the Caucasus. Nagorno Karabakh has never
been part of an independent Azerbaijani state.
Declassified Central Intelligence Agency reports confirm
that Nagorno Karabakh is historically Armenian and
maintained even more autonomy than the rest of Armenia
through the centuries. To force Christian Armenians to
be ruled by Muslim Azerbaijan would be to sanction
Joseph Stalin's policies and ensure continued
instability in the region."
3)Arguments in Opposition : Constituents in opposition argue:
"Historically governed by the Azerbaijani rulers, the
Karabakh region was conquered by the Russian Empire in
the 19th century. After declaration of the independent
Republic of Azerbaijan on May 28, 1918, the region
became a part of the Azerbaijan Republic. In 1921, after
the Bolshevik occupation of Azerbaijan, the Soviet
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authorities decided that the region should remain part
of the Azerbaijan Soviet Republic. Ignoring the United
Nations Security Council resolutions 822, 853, 874, 884
from 1993, Armenia has not withdrawn its troops from the
occupied territories till now. Today neither United
States nor any other members of the United Nation
recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent country."
4)Policy Questions : This resolution raises a fundamental policy
question regarding the role of the California Legislature in
foreign disputes. Should the Rules Committee and the Legislature
act on such measures when a nexus to the California economy or
political affairs is not clear? Furthermore, this committee may
want to consider whether the Rules Committee and the Legislature
have the resources to analyze and make such findings.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Armenian Council of America
Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region
Over 200 individual letters from constituents
Opposition
Azerbaijan Cultural Society of Northern California
Over 50 individual letters from constituents
Analysis Prepared by : Mukhtar Ali / RLS. / (916) 319-2800