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TODAY, ARTSAKH IS AN INDEPENDENT STATE CAPABLE OF DEFENDING ITS CITIZENS: BRIEFING IN USA
Panorama
Oct 19 2011
Armenia
On the occasion of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic's twentieth
anniversary of independence, the Armenian Assembly's Northern
California Regional Council (NCRC) held a briefing featuring Robert
Avetisyan, NKR Representative to the United States, reported the
Armenian Assembly of America (AAA).
Convened at the St. Vartan Armenian Church in Oakland, California,
the Bay Area audience also heard remarks from Andrew Lyons, Vice
President of HALO Trust USA, and AAA Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
Mr. Avetisyan provided a historical overview of Karabakh as well as
current-day issues and challenges explaining how "during almost the
seven decades of Nagorno Karabakh's existence within Soviet Azerbaijan
- a part of the Soviet Union - the authorities in Baku regularly
violated the rights of Karabakh Armenians, hampered the region's
economic development, and implemented a policy of deportation of
Armenians from Nagorno Karabakh, thus transforming the demographic
composition of the region in favor of its Azerbaijani minority."
"Today, Artsakh is an independent state capable of defending its
citizenry and the process of depopulating our homeland by the Azeri
authorities has ended. Nor do we intend that they should have the
opportunity to resume such policies and violations of basic human
rights," Avetisyan added.
For his part, Andrew Lyons discussed the important life-saving work
his organization is doing to clear unexploded ordinance and mines
in Nagorno Karabakh left over from the time of the war in the early
1990s. Lyons also expressed concern that, without additional funding
sources, progress will be hampered and thus prolonging the time it
will take to rid NKR of this lingering danger.
Introduced by Armenian Assembly ARAMAC Northern California State
Chair and NCRC Member, Valina Agbabian, Ardouny focused his remarks
on the current environment in Washington, DC and urged those present
to stay actively involved to ensure that Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia
receive the attention they merit as well as ongoing U.S. assistance
to develop their economies.
Following the briefing, a lively question and answer period ensued
and covered a range of important topics for the speakers to address.
Afterwards, there was an opportunity for further discussion while
guests enjoyed an assortment of refreshments.
"I would like to express our appreciation to the members of the NCRC
for all of their hard work in conjunction with the members of St.
Vartan's Cultural Committee for making this event possible. We also
extend our gratitude to Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan for hosting us,"
stated the Assembly's Western Region Manager Aline Maksoudian.
Panorama
Oct 19 2011
Armenia
On the occasion of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic's twentieth
anniversary of independence, the Armenian Assembly's Northern
California Regional Council (NCRC) held a briefing featuring Robert
Avetisyan, NKR Representative to the United States, reported the
Armenian Assembly of America (AAA).
Convened at the St. Vartan Armenian Church in Oakland, California,
the Bay Area audience also heard remarks from Andrew Lyons, Vice
President of HALO Trust USA, and AAA Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
Mr. Avetisyan provided a historical overview of Karabakh as well as
current-day issues and challenges explaining how "during almost the
seven decades of Nagorno Karabakh's existence within Soviet Azerbaijan
- a part of the Soviet Union - the authorities in Baku regularly
violated the rights of Karabakh Armenians, hampered the region's
economic development, and implemented a policy of deportation of
Armenians from Nagorno Karabakh, thus transforming the demographic
composition of the region in favor of its Azerbaijani minority."
"Today, Artsakh is an independent state capable of defending its
citizenry and the process of depopulating our homeland by the Azeri
authorities has ended. Nor do we intend that they should have the
opportunity to resume such policies and violations of basic human
rights," Avetisyan added.
For his part, Andrew Lyons discussed the important life-saving work
his organization is doing to clear unexploded ordinance and mines
in Nagorno Karabakh left over from the time of the war in the early
1990s. Lyons also expressed concern that, without additional funding
sources, progress will be hampered and thus prolonging the time it
will take to rid NKR of this lingering danger.
Introduced by Armenian Assembly ARAMAC Northern California State
Chair and NCRC Member, Valina Agbabian, Ardouny focused his remarks
on the current environment in Washington, DC and urged those present
to stay actively involved to ensure that Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia
receive the attention they merit as well as ongoing U.S. assistance
to develop their economies.
Following the briefing, a lively question and answer period ensued
and covered a range of important topics for the speakers to address.
Afterwards, there was an opportunity for further discussion while
guests enjoyed an assortment of refreshments.
"I would like to express our appreciation to the members of the NCRC
for all of their hard work in conjunction with the members of St.
Vartan's Cultural Committee for making this event possible. We also
extend our gratitude to Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan for hosting us,"
stated the Assembly's Western Region Manager Aline Maksoudian.