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CONGRESS MARKS KARABAKH INDEPENDENCE 20TH ANNIVERSARY
Tert.am
15.09.11
Members of US Congress joined Nagorno Karabakh Republic (Artsakh)
Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghulyan and Parliament Member Zoya Lazaryan
at the Capitol Hill commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the
Republic's independence, the Asbarez.com reported.
The September 13 event, co-hosted by the Congressional Caucus
on Armenian Issues, the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic office in Washington, and Armenian American
groups was held at the historic Rayburn House Office Building's Gold
Room, with the participation of a broad cross-section of the Armenian
American community and Congressional staff.
Throughout the evening, Members of Congress, including Congressional
Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Ed Royce (R-CA), as well as
Representatives David Cicilline (D-RI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Robert Dold
(R-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Jackie Speier
(D-CA) spoke forcefully and eloquently about Karabakh's robust
democracy and commitment to a lasting peace which respects the right
to self-determination of its people.
Representatives Pallone and Cicilline envisioned a future where
Karabakh's independence would be internationally recognized or reunited
with neighboring Armenia.
Eastern Prelate Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan offered a moving invocation
during the program. He was joined at the observance by Rev.
Father Sarkis Aktavoukian, pastor of the Holy Cross Armenian Church
of Bethesda, Maryland and Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan of St. Mary's
Armenian Church in Washington.
In his keynote remarks, Speaker Ghulyan stressed that clear security
guarantees must be included in any peace settlement, given Azerbaijan's
ongoing aggression against the people of Karabakh.
"We realize that the status quo is not what we had hoped for when we
embarked on our struggle. Yet, particularly considering Azerbaijan's
openly and repeatedly stated threat of military action, the current
situation with all its components represents the system of our
security. Any changes to this arrangement without real guarantees and
real definition of what peace and our sovereignty will look like are
unacceptable for us."
Chairwoman Lazaryan thanked Members of Congress for their ongoing
commitment to sending US aid to Nagorno Karabakh.
"20 years of independence have proved that Artsakh can address its
own economic and social challenges. And this has been possible in
significant extent due to the assistance provided by the United
States. We appreciate this. I am confident that when adopting this
decision, US Congress knows these resources will contribute to peace
in the South Caucasus."
Armenia's Ambassador to US Tatoul Markaryan offered a moving defense
of liberty for the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
Earlier in the day, Speaker Ghoulyan and Parliament Member Lazaryan
met with ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian and former ANCA
Chairman Garo Armenian, where they were awarded medals for their
ongoing commitment to the cause of Karabakh's freedom.
Tert.am
15.09.11
Members of US Congress joined Nagorno Karabakh Republic (Artsakh)
Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghulyan and Parliament Member Zoya Lazaryan
at the Capitol Hill commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the
Republic's independence, the Asbarez.com reported.
The September 13 event, co-hosted by the Congressional Caucus
on Armenian Issues, the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic office in Washington, and Armenian American
groups was held at the historic Rayburn House Office Building's Gold
Room, with the participation of a broad cross-section of the Armenian
American community and Congressional staff.
Throughout the evening, Members of Congress, including Congressional
Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Ed Royce (R-CA), as well as
Representatives David Cicilline (D-RI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Robert Dold
(R-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Jackie Speier
(D-CA) spoke forcefully and eloquently about Karabakh's robust
democracy and commitment to a lasting peace which respects the right
to self-determination of its people.
Representatives Pallone and Cicilline envisioned a future where
Karabakh's independence would be internationally recognized or reunited
with neighboring Armenia.
Eastern Prelate Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan offered a moving invocation
during the program. He was joined at the observance by Rev.
Father Sarkis Aktavoukian, pastor of the Holy Cross Armenian Church
of Bethesda, Maryland and Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan of St. Mary's
Armenian Church in Washington.
In his keynote remarks, Speaker Ghulyan stressed that clear security
guarantees must be included in any peace settlement, given Azerbaijan's
ongoing aggression against the people of Karabakh.
"We realize that the status quo is not what we had hoped for when we
embarked on our struggle. Yet, particularly considering Azerbaijan's
openly and repeatedly stated threat of military action, the current
situation with all its components represents the system of our
security. Any changes to this arrangement without real guarantees and
real definition of what peace and our sovereignty will look like are
unacceptable for us."
Chairwoman Lazaryan thanked Members of Congress for their ongoing
commitment to sending US aid to Nagorno Karabakh.
"20 years of independence have proved that Artsakh can address its
own economic and social challenges. And this has been possible in
significant extent due to the assistance provided by the United
States. We appreciate this. I am confident that when adopting this
decision, US Congress knows these resources will contribute to peace
in the South Caucasus."
Armenia's Ambassador to US Tatoul Markaryan offered a moving defense
of liberty for the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
Earlier in the day, Speaker Ghoulyan and Parliament Member Lazaryan
met with ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian and former ANCA
Chairman Garo Armenian, where they were awarded medals for their
ongoing commitment to the cause of Karabakh's freedom.