The House of Representatives of the State of Texas has passed a resolution commemorating the Khojaly massacre.
As a result of the annual action campaigns by the US Azeris Network (USAN), the Texas House of Representatives passed the resolution recognizing and commemorating victims of the Khojaly massacre
The resolution, HR 535, was authored by State Representative Jim Murphy (Republican) and adopted by the House of Representatives on 3 March 3, 2011 by a non-record vote. This resolution recognizing Khojaly Massacre is the first resolution passed within State Legislature in Texas and nationwide.
The resolution on the Khojaly massacre reads:
"WHEREAS, February 26, 2011, marks the 19th anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre in Azerbaijan, and the observance of this somber date inspires reflection by individuals across the globe; and
"WHEREAS, On February 25 and 26, 1992, Armenian armed forces, accompanied by Russian military troops, occupied the town of Khojaly as part of the bitter warfare that had been taking place in the Nagorno-Karabakh region since 1988; and
"WHEREAS, When a large group of Azerbaijani civilians attempted to evacuate the area, they were fired on by the Armenian and Russian soldiers, resulting in the largest massacre of that bloody conflict; estimates of the exact number of people killed vary from 160 to as many as 1,000, with many women and children among the dead; and
"WHEREAS, The massacre was reported by major news organizations and has been viewed by the Human Rights Watch/Helsinki organization as a violation of customary law regarding the treatment of civilians in war zones; moreover, numerous governments around the world have condemned the attack; and
"WHEREAS, This tragic event is a sobering reminder of the terrible carnage that can be inflicted in wartime and the enduring need for greater understanding, communication, and tolerance among the people the world over; now, therefore be it
"RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature, hereby commemorate the 19th anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre in Azerbaijan."
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