H.R. No. 535
R E S O L U T I O N
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
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.
Murphy
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 535 was adopted by the House on March
3, 2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House