Congressional Armenian Caucus Founding Co-Chair Frank Pallone and a bipartisan group of 30 US House of Representatives members are spearheading legislation calling for international recognition of Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) as the foundation for a lasting peace in the Caucasus region, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The resolution also condemns Azerbaijan and Turkey’s ongoing attacks on Armenia and Artsakh, urges the zeroing out of military aid to Azerbaijan, calls for Artsakh’s direct participation in ongoing OSCE mediated peace talks, and, more broadly, urges the easing of travel and communication restrictions between the US and Artsakh.

Set to be introduced on Friday, the measure coincides with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, to take place with the backdrop of Azerbaijan and Turkey’s bombing of Armenian civilians in Artsakh.