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Artsakh Envoy Calls For Armenian Genocide Recognition

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  • Artsakh Envoy Calls For Armenian Genocide Recognition

    OFFICE OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC IN THE USA
    1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20036
    Tel: (202) 223-4330
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Web site: www.nkrusa.org

    PRESS RELEASE
    April 30, 2008

    ARTSAKH'S ENVOY CALLS FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
    Urges Greater U.S. Political and Economic Support to Artsakh

    Washington, DC - NKR Representative to the United States Vardan Barseghian
    spoke at the annual Armenian Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill that also
    featured U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer
    (D-MD), Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and other members of Congress.

    The event was organized by the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues,
    co-chaired by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), in
    cooperation with the Armenian Embassy in Washington and leading
    Armenian-American organizations. Armenian Ambassador Tatoul Markarian,
    Prelate Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, and Dr.
    Gregory Stanton, President of the International Association of Genocide
    Scholars also spoke to the audience that included Armenian Genocide
    survivors, human rights activists, and members of the Armenian community.

    In his remarks, Representative Barseghian called upon the United States to
    recognize the Armenian Genocide saying that it would "send a powerful
    warning signal to those who plan new ethnic cleansing campaigns that the
    truth will prevail, that criminal actions will be named for what they are
    and that the perpetrators will be condemned and will bear responsibility."

    Tying past crimes against humanity to today's situation, Barseghian said
    that the Nagorno Karabakh problem is a direct result of the Armenian
    Genocide of 1915-1923.

    "Weakened by mass killings, deportations and widespread devastation
    inflicted by the Ottoman Turks, Armenia was not able to hold on to its
    historic province of Artsakh and eventually gave in to the Soviet pressure
    to include it within administrative borders of Soviet Azerbaijan. And the
    consequences of the Armenian Genocide, including that particular decision by
    the Bolsheviks, continue affecting our lives today, over 90 years later",
    the Artsakh representative said.

    Stressing that the risk of genocide still exists, Barseghian said that
    "Azerbaijan continues to threaten Nagorno Karabakh with a new war because we
    insist on our right to live in freedom."

    "Nagorno Karabakh will continue reinforcing its defense capabilities to be
    up to the task, but we would like to see our friends on Capitol Hill and
    those who want to see a stable and peaceful South Caucasus to send a clear
    signal to Azerbaijan that a new war would not be tolerated," he said.

    On behalf of the NKR Government, Barseghian thanked Representatives Pallone
    and Knollenberg and other congressional leaders for their steadfast support
    on issues related to Artsakh's security, freedom, and economic development.
    He urged greater U.S. political and economic support.

    "We hope that the U.S. Congress will continue its leading role in charting a
    new format for relations with Nagorno Karabakh that looks beyond conflict
    resolution to collaboration on issues of security, democracy and economic
    development."

    Concluding his remarks said Barseghian said that leaders on Capitol Hill
    acknowledge that in "parallel to our common efforts to make this world
    genocide-free, we also need to deal with consequences of past crimes and to
    support those who still struggle for freedom and justice."

    The full text of Rep. Barseghian's remarks is provided below. You can also
    view it online at: http://nkrusa.org/nk_conflict/speeches.php?id=7

    The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is based in
    Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia and the American
    public representing the official policies and interests of the Nagorno
    Karabakh Republic, Artsakh.

    * * *

    Armenian Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill

    Remarks by the NKR Representative to the United States Vardan Barseghian
    April 23, 2008

    Ambassador Markarian,
    Honorable Members of Congress,
    Your Eminence,
    Dear friends,

    I would like to start by thanking the co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus
    on Armenian Issues, Representatives Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, for
    organizing this event in collaboration with the Armenian Embassy and all
    major Armenian-American organizations.

    Both co-chairs deserve a special credit for their outstanding leadership on
    issues that are important to the Armenian-American community, to the United
    States, Armenia and Artsakh. We highly value the support of our many
    congressional friends on issues related to Artsakh's security, freedom, and
    economic development. Thank you!

    It is a great privilege to join you today, on behalf of the Government of
    the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh, as we honor the sacred memory of
    innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide. For all those gathered here and
    for all those who spoke and will speak today, it is a solemn duty to be
    here, to remember, reflect and seek justice, speaking on behalf of those who
    were silenced by their cold-blooded killers in 1915-1923 throughout historic
    Armenia, including its eastern-most province of Artsakh.

    Tomorrow, tens of thousands will lay flowers at the Genocide Memorial in
    Artsakh. They will remember the victims of the Armenian Genocide, among
    which are over 20,000 Armenians brutally killed in Shushi, Nagorno Karabakh,
    in March of 1920. They will also wow, once again, not to allow the repeat of
    those horrible events.

    Some, who are less familiar with our part of the world and whom we try to
    educate about the urgency of recognizing the crimes of the past, would say
    that we should not be concerned about a new genocide. Some are prepared to
    argue that the modern-day Turkey is not a threat to Armenia and Artsakh. But
    only 15 years ago, Turkey supported Azerbaijan as the latter waged a war
    trying to kill or expel the entire Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh.

    Unfortunately the threat of genocide is an ever present one. Azerbaijan
    continues to threaten Nagorno Karabakh with a new war because we insist on
    our right to live in freedom. Last month, Azerbaijan went beyond verbal
    threats and breached the cease-fire regime by attacking our defense
    positions along the Line of Contact. When Azerbaijan refused the OSCE
    mediation to withdraw, Karabakh's Army responded in kind, recovering the
    defense post and inflicting losses to the enemy. The threat of a new war by
    Azerbaijan, whose army is trained by Turkish instructors, remains real.

    Nagorno Karabakh will continue reinforcing its defense capabilities to be up
    to the task, but we would like to see our friends on Capitol Hill and those
    who want to see a stable and peaceful South Caucasus to send a clear signal
    to Azerbaijan that a new war would not be tolerated. In this regard we
    support the proposed elimination of U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan
    until the latter ceases all hostile actions, including threats to use force,
    against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

    U.S. economic assistance continues to play a critical role in rebuilding
    Karabakh's economy. To build on success of these programs, we ask that the
    U.S. Congress continue allocating funds for humanitarian and development
    programs to ensure that all parts of the South Caucasus have an opportunity
    for economic and political progress.

    The Nagorno Karabakh Republic is a functioning democracy. It effectively
    controls its territory and enjoys the trust of its citizens. NKR conducts an
    independent foreign policy and has the capacity to build and maintain
    international contacts with governments and intergovernmental organizations.


    It is time for the United States and the rest of the international community
    to embrace this new democracy by expanding dialogue on all levels, including
    on government-to-government level. We hope the U.S. Congress will continue
    its leading role in charting a new format for relations with Nagorno
    Karabakh that looks beyond conflict resolution to collaboration on issues of
    security, democracy and economic development.

    One might ask: How are these issues related to the Armenian Genocide
    recognition? They are related for one simple reason -- the existence of the
    Nagorno Karabakh problem today is the direct result of the 1915-1923
    Armenian Genocide. Weakened by mass killings, deportations and widespread
    devastation inflicted by the Ottoman Turks, Armenia was not able to hold on
    to its historic province of Artsakh and eventually gave in to the Soviet
    pressure to include it within administrative borders of Azerbaijan. That was
    in 1921.

    But, the consequences of the Armenian Genocide, including that particular
    decision by the Soviets, continue affecting our lives today, over 90 years
    later.

    Therefore, by supporting Nagorno Karabakh economically and politically our
    friends on Capitol Hill indirectly also acknowledge that in parallel to our
    common efforts to make this world genocide-free, we also need to deal with
    consequences of past crimes and to support those who still struggle for
    freedom and justice.

    Those who recognize the need to speak about Armenian Genocide, other crimes
    against humanity, genocides in the making, ordinary citizens and their
    elected representatives, help the cause of justice.

    Last year, all of us had great hopes that the truth will prevail, that the
    justice will be done on the Capitol Hill and that the House Resolution 106
    would pass. And we remain hopeful. Needless to say that on many issues the
    world looks at the U.S. for leadership. Recognition of the Armenian Genocide
    by the United States will send a powerful warning signal to those who plan
    genocidal campaigns that the truth will prevail, that criminal actions will
    be named for what they are and that perpetrators will be condemned and will
    bear responsibility.

    Today, as we pay tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide, as we
    honor the survivors, we must also remain focused on doing all we can to
    prevent any genocide in the future. Thank you!

    * * *

    This material is distributed by the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
    in the USA (NKR Office) on behalf of the Government of the Nagorno Karabakh
    Republic. The NKR Office is registered with the U.S. Government under the
    Foreign Agent Registration Act. Additional information is available at the
    Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
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