WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers in the U.S. state of Massachusetts have passed a resolution calling on U.S. President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress to "support the self-determination and democratic independence" of Nagorno-Karabakh, the predominantly ethnic-Armenian separatist enclave in Azerbaijan.
The resolution, adopted on August 6 by the state's House of Representatives, also commends last month's de-facto presidential election in the territory as “another major step” in democratic development.
The move follows the adoption of a similar resolution by the state legislature of Rhode Island in May.
Both resolutions were lobbied for by Nagorno-Karabakh's self-styled representative office in the United States.
Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a war over the region from 1988 to 1994.
A final resolution to the dispute remains elusive.
No country recognizes the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The resolution, adopted on August 6 by the state's House of Representatives, also commends last month's de-facto presidential election in the territory as “another major step” in democratic development.
The move follows the adoption of a similar resolution by the state legislature of Rhode Island in May.
Both resolutions were lobbied for by Nagorno-Karabakh's self-styled representative office in the United States.
Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a war over the region from 1988 to 1994.
A final resolution to the dispute remains elusive.
No country recognizes the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh.
