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ANCA: 20th Anniv. of Artsakh Movement Marked on Capitol Hill

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  • ANCA: 20th Anniv. of Artsakh Movement Marked on Capitol Hill

    ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF AMERICA
    1711 N Street NW
    Washington, DC 20036
    Tel: (202) 775-1918
    Fax: (202) 775-5648
    Email: [email protected]
    Website: www.anca.org

    PRESS RELEASE
    September 17, 2008
    Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
    Tel: (202) 775-1918
    Email: [email protected]

    20th ANNIVERSARY OF NAGORNO KARABAGH MOVEMENT
    MARKED AT CAPITOL HILL PROGRAM

    -- Special Guest Mark Geragos Joined by More than Ten Members of
    Congress; Community Leadership; Armenia and NKR Diplomatic Corps

    -- Geragos Challenges Congress to Provide at least $100 Million
    to Artsakh

    WASHINGTON, DC - Members of Congress joined together on a
    bipartisan basis this evening to mark the 20th anniversary of the
    Nagorno Karabagh Republic (Artsakh) freedom movement, at a Capitol
    Hill program headlined by prominent lawyer and humanitarian Mark
    Geragos, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
    (ANCA).

    The evening, titled "Nagorno Karabakh Republic/Artsakh: 20 Years of
    Freedom, Democracy and Progress," was hosted by the Congressional
    Caucus of Armenian Issues in cooperation with the Embassy of the
    Republic of Armenia, the Nagorno Karabagh Representation in the
    U.S., and Armenian American organizations.

    "As a community deeply devoted to Artsakh's security, we are
    pleased to be joined by our Congressional friends at today's
    Capitol Hill celebration of Nagorno Karabagh's hard-won freedom,"
    said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We take from this
    event an added measure of devotion to standing up against
    Azerbaijani and Caspian energy interests, increasing developmental
    aid to Nagorno Karabagh, zeroing-out military aid to Azerbaijan,
    and breaking down the artificial barriers to U.S.-Artsakh
    dialogue."

    Throughout the evening, Members of Congress offered remarks
    congratulating Nagorno Karabagh -- praising its commitment to
    democracy, peace and stability, and citing it as an example for
    other countries in the region. Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-
    Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), who served
    as Masters of Ceremony for the evening, offered moving remarks
    along with Reps. Shelly Berkley (D-NV), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Jim
    Costa (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), George
    Radanovich (R-CA), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Brad Sherman (D-CA), and
    Tim Walz (D-MN).

    The event invocation was offered by His Eminence Archbishop Vicken
    Aykazian, legate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
    the Eastern U.S., while a special presentation on the Nagorno
    Karabagh liberation movement was made by His Eminence Archbishop
    Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Eastern U.S.
    In recognition of Congressional support for Artsakh, the
    Congressional Caucus Co-Chairs were given a special book of letters
    and drawing prepared by the children of Artsakh, presented by Ms.
    Nelly Martirosyan, who had recently spent over two months working
    with youth there.

    In his keynote address, Geragos challenged Members of Congress to
    increase their support for Nagorno Karabagh, calling the $30
    million in U.S. assistance allocated to date to Nagorno Karabagh
    insufficient, and asserting that this aid package, to a democratic
    nation in a troubled region, should be at least at the $100 million
    level.

    Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Tatoul Markarian and NKR
    Representative in the U.S. Vardan Barseghian provided insight on
    the current peace talks over Nagorno Karabagh and the ongoing
    commitment of both countries to a peaceful resolution of the
    conflict. A special video marking the 20th anniversary of the
    Artsakh movement, prepared by film-maker and documentary producer
    Peter Musurlian, highlighted the economic progress and
    strengthening of democracy in the Republic. The evening concluded
    with moving remarks by human rights activist Kathryn Porter, a
    frequent visitor to Artsakh who has shared trying and triumphant
    moments with the women of Artsakh during and after the conflict in
    the region.

    Photos and video coverage of Congressional remarks from the event
    will be posted on the ANCA website (www.anca.org) and YouTube
    channel - www.youtube.com/ANCAgrassroots.

    #####

    Note to the Editor: Photos Available Upon request. Please email:
    [email protected]
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