Royce-Engel Congressional Sign-On Letter to Ambassador Warlick

October 26, 2015

The Honorable James Warlick
U.S. Co-Chair
OSCE Minsk Group
Dear Ambassador Warlick:

We are writing out of concern over the escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in deaths on both sides of the conflict. It is our hope that the United States, through its role in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Minsk Group, as well as through direct diplomacy with both Armenia and Azerbaijan, will immediately advocate for several steps to promote peace in the region.

We believe that securing the full and public support of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Nagorno-Karabakh for the following steps would, in the short-term, save lives and help to avert war. Over the longer term, these steps could contribute to a comprehensive and enduring peace for all the citizens of the region.

An agreement from all sides not to deploy snipers along the line of contact.

The placement of OSCE-monitored, advanced gunfire-locator systems and sound-ranging equipment to determine the source of attacks along the line of contact.

The deployment of additional OSCE observers along the line of contact to better monitor cease-fire violations.

We also urge you to publicly condemn specific acts of aggression along the line of contact. The longstanding U.S. and OSCE practice of responding to each new attack with generic calls upon all parties to refrain from violence has failed to de-escalate the situation. Instead, this policy of artificial evenhandedness has dangerously increased tensions. There will be no peace absent responsibility.

Thank you for your consideration of these recommendations. We continue to support your efforts to reach a durable and just resolution to this conflict and look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Joining House Foreign Affairs CommitteeChairman Ed Royce and Ranking Member Eliot Engel in signing the letter are: Vice-Chair of the Democratic Caucus Joe Crowley (D-NY); Democratic Caucus Chair of Policy and Communications Steve Israel (D-NY); Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence Devin Nunes (R-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA); Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee Adam Smith (D-WA); Ranking Member of the Ways and Means CommitteeSander Levin (D-MI); Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee Nita Lowey (D-NY); Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ); Ranking Member of the Budget Committee Chris Van Hollen (D-MD); Ranking Member of the Ethics Committee Linda Sanchez (D-CA); Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA); Chairman and Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Human Rights Chris Smith (R-NJ) andKaren Bass (D-CA); Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East Ted Deutch (D-FL); Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere Albio Sires (D-NJ); Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia Brad Sherman (D-CA); Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ); Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA); Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior Betty McCollum (D-MN); Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on AgricultureSam Farr (D-CA); Chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Military PersonnelJoe Heck (R-NV); Ranking Member of the Armed Subcommittee on Oversight Jackie Speier (D-CA); Ranking Member of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces Loretta Sanchez (D-CA); Ranking Member of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats James Langevin (D-RI); Ranking Member of the Armed Services Subcommittee on ReadinessMadeleine Bordallo (D-GU); Ranking Member of the Intelligence Subcommittee on Emerging Threats Mike Quigley (D-IL); Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation SecurityKathleen Rice (D-NY); Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on OversightPeter Roskam (R-IL); Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on HealthJim McDermott (D-WA); Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on TradeCharles Rangel (D-NY); Chairman and Ranking Members of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets Scott Garrett (R-NJ) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY); Chairman of the Education Subcommittee on Workforce Protection Tim Walberg (R-MI); Chairman of the Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ); Chairman of Transportation Subcommittee on Railroads Jeff Denham (R-CA); Ranking Member of Transportation Subcommittee on Water Resources Grace Napolitano (D-CA); Ranking Member of the Transportation Subcommittee on HighwaysEleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC); Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Technology Anna Eshoo (D-CA); Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Trade Jan Schakowsky (D-IL); Ranking Member on the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on the Environment Paul Tonko (D-NY); Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Zoe Lofgren (D-CA); Ranking Member of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy Alan Lowenthal (D-CA); Ranking Member of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal LandsNiki Tsongas (D-MA); Ranking Member of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Foreign Agriculture Jim Costa (D-CA); Ranking Member of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology Suzan DelBene (D-WA); Ranking Member on the Oversight Subcommittee on National Security Stephen Lynch (D-MA); Ranking Member of the Oversight Subcommittee on the InteriorBrenda Lawrence (D-MI); Ranking Member of Science and Space Subcommittee on Oversight Donald Beyer (D-VA); Ranking Member of Science and Space Subcommittee on Research Daniel Lipinski (D-IL); Ranking Member on the Small Business Subcommittee on Trade Grace Meng (D-NY); Ranking Member of the Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth Judy Chu (D-CA); Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight Mike Coffman (R-CO); Ranking Member of the Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability AssistanceDina Titus (D-NV); Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Jim McGovern (D-MA); Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Robert Dold (R-IL); Congressional Hellenic Caucus Chairman and Armenian Caucus Vice-Chairman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Representatives: Mike Bishop (R-MI), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Dave Brat (R-VA), Tony Cardenas (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), Katherine Clark (D-MA), Yvette Clark (D-NY), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Daniel Donovan (R-NY), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Janice Hahn (D-CA), Richard Hanna (R-NY), Michael Honda (D-CA), Joe Kennedy (D-MA), Steve Knight (R-CA), Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Kurt Schrader (D-OR), David Trott (R-MI), David Valadao (R-CA), and Peter Welch (D-VT).

Attachment: Royce-Engel Congressional Sign-On Letter to Ambassador Warlick