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U.S. Congressmen to continue contributing to international recognition
of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
arminfo
Saturday, December 8, 14:03
Members of the U.S. House and Senate joined with more than one hundred
Armenian American community leaders at a December 5th Capitol Hill
celebration of Nagorno Karabakh's independence, featuring a keynote
address by the Foreign Minister of Nagorno Karabakh, Karen Mirzoyan.
The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the USA reports that
the Congressional event, held in the historic Russell building on the
Senate side of Capitol Hill was sponsored and organized by the
Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Rep. Ed
Royce, the incoming Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and
Rep. Frank Pallone, in cooperation with the Armenian Embassy, the
Office of the Nagorno- Karabakh Republic in the United States, and
leading Armenian American organizations. Diplomats, religious leaders,
think tank community representatives, Congressional staff members,
Armenian-Americans community leaders, and representatives of local and
international media joined the legislators in participating in the
celebration.
The event marked the day, 21 years ago, when Artsakh held a national
referendum on its independence that delivered an overwhelming vote
(98.9% of eligible Artsakh voters) in support of an independent state
that, acting on its own authority, was empowered to decide forms of
co-operation with other states and communities. In 2006, more than a
decade later, also in December, the citizens of Artsakh reaffirmed
their commitment to live in a free and independent state by adopting
Artsakh's primary law, namely the Constitution of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic, Artsakh, which consolidated all the basic principles of
state sovereignty and marked a new stage in the Republic's
development.
Minister Mirzoyan, in his keynote address, emphasized the importance
of both democratic votes, as well as the symbolism of their having
taken place on or near International Human Rights Day. He stressed, in
his remarks, that: "For us, independence is not just an ultimate goal,
but also the means by which the Nagorno Karabakh Republic can take its
rightful place as a responsible member of the international community;
by which our people can best fulfill their potential, realize their
aspirations, and enjoy all the rights and freedoms that everyone
deserves." While talking about the Karabakh-Azerbaijani conflict,
Minister Mirzoyan stressed Artsakh's alliance with the international
community in seeking a peaceful resolution of the conflict. He also
expressed confidence that "effective negotiations require the
immediate restoration of Artsakh's full participation in all aspects
of the negotiation process."
Ambassador Markarian addressed the gathering and praised the Armenian
Congressional Caucus for their unwavering support for independence,
security and democratic development of Artsakh. He strongly condemned
the recent hostile actions of Azerbaijan and underscored the urgency
of support and recognition of the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic by the international community. As part of the evening's
program, Ambassador Markarian presented "Mkhitar Gosh" medals to the
Representatives Anna Eshoo and Brad Sherman. These honors, bestowed
by the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, recognized their many
contributions to the advancement of Armenian issues, including
universal recognition of the Armenian Genocide. At the same time,
during the event, Minister Mirzoyan awarded both Reps. Sherman and
Eshoo commemorative medals dedicated to the anniversary of the
Artsakh's independence.
Members of Congress congratulated people of Artsakh on the occasion of
those anniversaries and highlighted their support for the legitimacy
of the Artsakh's independence and its many achievements since
independence. They expressed their readiness to continue supporting
international recognition of the Artsakh Republic and condemned the
escalation of threats and acts of anti-Armenian hatred and violence by
the Azerbaijani government, a troubling trend that recently culminated
in Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's pardoning of convicted
axe-murderer Ramil Safarov.
In his opening remarks, Representative Pallone, who moderated the
event, stressed that the people and leaders of Artsakh realized their
right to self- determination and independence in full conformity with
all existing national and international law, legal precedent, and
democratic traditions. He called for continued American support for
Artsakh's democracy. Joining Congressman Pallone in offering
remarks, and making statements, were Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), and
Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Anna Eshoo
D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), and Eliot Engel (D-NY), the incoming
Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as Senator
Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA).
Reps. Jeff Denham (R-CA) and Linda Sanchez (D- CA) were also among
those participating in the celebration.
John Evans, the former US Ambassador to Armenia attended and addressed
the event.
The program was rounded out by a powerful speech by Anna
Astvatsaturian Turcotte, an Armenian refugee from Azerbaijan, who was
an eyewitness to anti-Armenian violence in Baku. She spoke movingly
of those dreadful days, which reaffirmed, she explained, her resolve
to see Artsakh live in freedom. She recently published her memoirs,
titled "Nowhere, a Story of Exile," that tells the story of her life
in Baku, and Azerbaijan's brutality against Armenian citizens in Baku
and elsewhere. She called upon the global community to pay proper
attention to the plight of Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan, and
expressed her hope that one day Azerbaijani society would be able to
overcome its hatred towards Armenians.
The event was concluded by the invocation served by the Archbishop
Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan Legate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America (East), as well as Reverend Fathers of both Armenian churches
in Washington.
of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
arminfo
Saturday, December 8, 14:03
Members of the U.S. House and Senate joined with more than one hundred
Armenian American community leaders at a December 5th Capitol Hill
celebration of Nagorno Karabakh's independence, featuring a keynote
address by the Foreign Minister of Nagorno Karabakh, Karen Mirzoyan.
The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the USA reports that
the Congressional event, held in the historic Russell building on the
Senate side of Capitol Hill was sponsored and organized by the
Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Rep. Ed
Royce, the incoming Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and
Rep. Frank Pallone, in cooperation with the Armenian Embassy, the
Office of the Nagorno- Karabakh Republic in the United States, and
leading Armenian American organizations. Diplomats, religious leaders,
think tank community representatives, Congressional staff members,
Armenian-Americans community leaders, and representatives of local and
international media joined the legislators in participating in the
celebration.
The event marked the day, 21 years ago, when Artsakh held a national
referendum on its independence that delivered an overwhelming vote
(98.9% of eligible Artsakh voters) in support of an independent state
that, acting on its own authority, was empowered to decide forms of
co-operation with other states and communities. In 2006, more than a
decade later, also in December, the citizens of Artsakh reaffirmed
their commitment to live in a free and independent state by adopting
Artsakh's primary law, namely the Constitution of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic, Artsakh, which consolidated all the basic principles of
state sovereignty and marked a new stage in the Republic's
development.
Minister Mirzoyan, in his keynote address, emphasized the importance
of both democratic votes, as well as the symbolism of their having
taken place on or near International Human Rights Day. He stressed, in
his remarks, that: "For us, independence is not just an ultimate goal,
but also the means by which the Nagorno Karabakh Republic can take its
rightful place as a responsible member of the international community;
by which our people can best fulfill their potential, realize their
aspirations, and enjoy all the rights and freedoms that everyone
deserves." While talking about the Karabakh-Azerbaijani conflict,
Minister Mirzoyan stressed Artsakh's alliance with the international
community in seeking a peaceful resolution of the conflict. He also
expressed confidence that "effective negotiations require the
immediate restoration of Artsakh's full participation in all aspects
of the negotiation process."
Ambassador Markarian addressed the gathering and praised the Armenian
Congressional Caucus for their unwavering support for independence,
security and democratic development of Artsakh. He strongly condemned
the recent hostile actions of Azerbaijan and underscored the urgency
of support and recognition of the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic by the international community. As part of the evening's
program, Ambassador Markarian presented "Mkhitar Gosh" medals to the
Representatives Anna Eshoo and Brad Sherman. These honors, bestowed
by the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, recognized their many
contributions to the advancement of Armenian issues, including
universal recognition of the Armenian Genocide. At the same time,
during the event, Minister Mirzoyan awarded both Reps. Sherman and
Eshoo commemorative medals dedicated to the anniversary of the
Artsakh's independence.
Members of Congress congratulated people of Artsakh on the occasion of
those anniversaries and highlighted their support for the legitimacy
of the Artsakh's independence and its many achievements since
independence. They expressed their readiness to continue supporting
international recognition of the Artsakh Republic and condemned the
escalation of threats and acts of anti-Armenian hatred and violence by
the Azerbaijani government, a troubling trend that recently culminated
in Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's pardoning of convicted
axe-murderer Ramil Safarov.
In his opening remarks, Representative Pallone, who moderated the
event, stressed that the people and leaders of Artsakh realized their
right to self- determination and independence in full conformity with
all existing national and international law, legal precedent, and
democratic traditions. He called for continued American support for
Artsakh's democracy. Joining Congressman Pallone in offering
remarks, and making statements, were Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), and
Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Anna Eshoo
D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), and Eliot Engel (D-NY), the incoming
Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as Senator
Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA).
Reps. Jeff Denham (R-CA) and Linda Sanchez (D- CA) were also among
those participating in the celebration.
John Evans, the former US Ambassador to Armenia attended and addressed
the event.
The program was rounded out by a powerful speech by Anna
Astvatsaturian Turcotte, an Armenian refugee from Azerbaijan, who was
an eyewitness to anti-Armenian violence in Baku. She spoke movingly
of those dreadful days, which reaffirmed, she explained, her resolve
to see Artsakh live in freedom. She recently published her memoirs,
titled "Nowhere, a Story of Exile," that tells the story of her life
in Baku, and Azerbaijan's brutality against Armenian citizens in Baku
and elsewhere. She called upon the global community to pay proper
attention to the plight of Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan, and
expressed her hope that one day Azerbaijani society would be able to
overcome its hatred towards Armenians.
The event was concluded by the invocation served by the Archbishop
Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan Legate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America (East), as well as Reverend Fathers of both Armenian churches
in Washington.