Tweet
MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE SUPPORTS FREEDOM OF ARTSAKH
Armenian Weekly
August 7, 2012
BOSTON, Mass.-On Aug. 6, the House of Representatives of the
State of Massachusetts adopted a resolution submitted by State
Representative Jonathan Hecht urging "the President and Congress of
the USA to support the self-determination and democratic independence
of Nagorno-Karabakh," the office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
(NKR) in the USA reported.
The Massachusetts State House in Boston.
In an interview with Armenian Weekly editor Khatchig Mouradian,
NKR representative Robert Avetisyan welcomed the adoption of the
resolution. "We are confident that the democratic development of
Artsakh will not go unnoticed," he said, underlining the fact that
support for "the status of Artsakh as a sovereign and independent
nation" continues growing worldwide.
ANCA Eastern Region chair George Aghjayan said, "I wish to
thank the Massachusetts legislature for recognizing the recent
democratic presidential elections in Nagorno Karabakh and the right
to self-determination of the Armenians there. For far too long, the
plight of the people of Nagorno Karabakh under the violent aggression
from Azerbaijan has been ignored." He added, "America's interests
are best served by recognizing democracy in Nagorno Karabakh and
condemning the terrorism of Azerbaijan. Massachusetts was at the
forefront of recognizing Nagorno Karabakh's independence 20 years
ago and reaffirms that again today."
Aghjayan noted that "the Massachusetts House of Representatives
properly understands a simple truth that the State Department has
yet to grasp, namely that our federal government's present policy
toward Nagorno Karabakh, were it in force back in 1776, would have,
in the name of territorial integrity, pressed the thirteen American
colonies to remain part of the British Empire."
The resolution condemns the killings of Armenians in Sumgait, Kirovabad
and Baku and acts of violent repression by Azerbaijan against the
peaceful demonstrations for self-determination in Nagorno-Karabakh. The
document notes that today also the "Nagorno-Karabakh's security
continues to be threatened by Azerbaijan's hostile acts." It notes
that despite these continuous acts of violence, the people of
Nagorno-Karabakh in a popular referendum on December 10, 1991 voted
in support of independence, freedom and democracy.
The resolution also congratulates "Nagorno-Karabakh on the success of
its ongoing efforts to develop democracy" and commends the July 19,
2012 presidential elections as "another major step" in this regard.
"We are grateful to Representative Hecht for his crucial leadership
in this issue. We also praise our compatriots and longtime supporters
James Kalustian and Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian for
their great dedication and continued efforts in promoting Artsakh's
interests in the United States," Avetisyan was quoted as saying in
a statement released by the NKR office.
A few months ago, on May 17, the Rhode Island House had passed a
resolution calling on the U.S. president and Congress to recognize the
independence of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic (NKR). The resolution
also encouraged the republic's "continued efforts to develop as
a free and independent nation," and praised Artsakh's (Karabagh)
"constructive involvement with the international community and its
efforts to reach a lasting solution to the existing regional problems."
Armenian Weekly
August 7, 2012
BOSTON, Mass.-On Aug. 6, the House of Representatives of the
State of Massachusetts adopted a resolution submitted by State
Representative Jonathan Hecht urging "the President and Congress of
the USA to support the self-determination and democratic independence
of Nagorno-Karabakh," the office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
(NKR) in the USA reported.
The Massachusetts State House in Boston.
In an interview with Armenian Weekly editor Khatchig Mouradian,
NKR representative Robert Avetisyan welcomed the adoption of the
resolution. "We are confident that the democratic development of
Artsakh will not go unnoticed," he said, underlining the fact that
support for "the status of Artsakh as a sovereign and independent
nation" continues growing worldwide.
ANCA Eastern Region chair George Aghjayan said, "I wish to
thank the Massachusetts legislature for recognizing the recent
democratic presidential elections in Nagorno Karabakh and the right
to self-determination of the Armenians there. For far too long, the
plight of the people of Nagorno Karabakh under the violent aggression
from Azerbaijan has been ignored." He added, "America's interests
are best served by recognizing democracy in Nagorno Karabakh and
condemning the terrorism of Azerbaijan. Massachusetts was at the
forefront of recognizing Nagorno Karabakh's independence 20 years
ago and reaffirms that again today."
Aghjayan noted that "the Massachusetts House of Representatives
properly understands a simple truth that the State Department has
yet to grasp, namely that our federal government's present policy
toward Nagorno Karabakh, were it in force back in 1776, would have,
in the name of territorial integrity, pressed the thirteen American
colonies to remain part of the British Empire."
The resolution condemns the killings of Armenians in Sumgait, Kirovabad
and Baku and acts of violent repression by Azerbaijan against the
peaceful demonstrations for self-determination in Nagorno-Karabakh. The
document notes that today also the "Nagorno-Karabakh's security
continues to be threatened by Azerbaijan's hostile acts." It notes
that despite these continuous acts of violence, the people of
Nagorno-Karabakh in a popular referendum on December 10, 1991 voted
in support of independence, freedom and democracy.
The resolution also congratulates "Nagorno-Karabakh on the success of
its ongoing efforts to develop democracy" and commends the July 19,
2012 presidential elections as "another major step" in this regard.
"We are grateful to Representative Hecht for his crucial leadership
in this issue. We also praise our compatriots and longtime supporters
James Kalustian and Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian for
their great dedication and continued efforts in promoting Artsakh's
interests in the United States," Avetisyan was quoted as saying in
a statement released by the NKR office.
A few months ago, on May 17, the Rhode Island House had passed a
resolution calling on the U.S. president and Congress to recognize the
independence of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic (NKR). The resolution
also encouraged the republic's "continued efforts to develop as
a free and independent nation," and praised Artsakh's (Karabagh)
"constructive involvement with the international community and its
efforts to reach a lasting solution to the existing regional problems."