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ARMENIANS ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
October 17, 2011
Contact: Press Department
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
BAY AREA ARMENIANS COME TOGETHER FOR BRIEFING ON ARTSAKH'S RIGHT TO
SELF-DETERMINATION
Washington, DC - 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.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3)
tax-exempt membership organization.
Photo Caption (L to R): Bryan Ardouny, Andrew Lyons, Valina Agbabian, NKR
Representative Robert Avetisyan, Julie Kulhanjian, Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan,
Aline Maksoudian, and David Ojakian
###
NR#: 2011-49
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
October 17, 2011
Contact: Press Department
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
BAY AREA ARMENIANS COME TOGETHER FOR BRIEFING ON ARTSAKH'S RIGHT TO
SELF-DETERMINATION
Washington, DC - 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.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3)
tax-exempt membership organization.
Photo Caption (L to R): Bryan Ardouny, Andrew Lyons, Valina Agbabian, NKR
Representative Robert Avetisyan, Julie Kulhanjian, Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan,
Aline Maksoudian, and David Ojakian
###
NR#: 2011-49