Thursday, July 11 2019 12:09

ArmInfo. The U.S. House has  overwhelmingly adopted the Chu Amendment endorsing the bipartisan  Royce-Engel peace proposal for Artsakh, a three-part, ANCA-backed  plan to deploy gunfire locators, add observers, and withdraw snipers,  heavy arms, and new weaponry from the Artsakh line-of-contact,  reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).  

"The  campaign of terror against the people of Artsakh must end," Rep. Chu  told the ANCA following House passage of her measure. "That's why I  introduced my amendment to support the cease-fire strengthening  proposals originally put forward by House Foreign Affairs Chairman  Eliot Engel and his predecessor, Ed Royce. The Royce-Engel proposals  include gunfire locators, new observers, and a ban on snipers, heavy  arms, and new weaponry along the line-of-contact.  Adopting them is  necessary for ensuring those who violate the peace are caught and  stopped, and that is what my amendment encourages. I am pleased it  was adopted in the NDAA and hope to see these proposals implemented,"  concluded Rep. Chu.  "We welcome today's historic U.S. House vote for  peace," said ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian. "We want to thank  Congresswoman Judy Chu for her relentless advocacy, Chairman McGovern  for his thoughtful and principled leadership of the Rules Committee,  Representatives Pallone and Schiff for serving as amendment  cosponsors, and - of course - each and every one of the legislators  who cast common sense votes for a stronger cease-fire and the promise  of a durable and democratic peace between Artsakh and Azerbaijan."

The Royce-Engel initiative, first proposed in Fall of 2015, received  the support of over 100 U.S. House members through a series of  Congressional calls to the U.S. 

Administration and the OSCE to take concrete action to ensure Artsakh  peace as Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)  Minsk Group-mediated negotiations continue.  The ANCA has launched  multiple nationwide grassroots campaigns in support of the  initiative, which has gotten support from the U.S. State Department  and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, in addition to the Republics of  Artsakh and Armenia.  Azerbaijan remains the only obstacle to their  practical implementation.