January 6, 2014

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Introduced by Assembly Member Gatto (Coauthors: Assembly Members Achadjian, Bocanegra, Brown, Ian Calderon, Dababneh, Nestande, Olsen, and Patterson)

January 6, 2014

Assembly Joint Resolution No. 32—Relative to the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

legislative counsel’s digest

AJR 32, as amended, Gatto. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. This measure would encourage and support the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s continuing efforts to develop as a free and independent nation, and urge 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.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, 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; and

WHEREAS, 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; and

WHEREAS, 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; and

WHEREAS, 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; and

WHEREAS, 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 the international observers as free and transparent; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature of California hereby encourages and supports the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s continuing efforts to develop as a free and independent nation in order to guarantee its citizens those rights inherent in a free and independent society; and be it further

Resolved, That the California State Legislature 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; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to each member of the California delegation to the Congress of the United States, and to the Secretary of State of California.