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U.S. CONGRESSMEN JOIN NKR FM TO MARK ARTSAKH INDEPENDENCE ANNIV.
December 6, 2012 - 21:40 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - On Dec. 5, U.S. legislators joined on Capitol Hill
with the Nagorno Karabakh Republic's Foreign Minister, Karen Mirzoyan,
in a spirited, standing-room-only celebration of Artsakh's independence
and democratic development.
"We were pleased to join this evening with so many friends of
freedom-in Congress, among our coalition partners, and from our
community - who know that the blessings of liberty belong to the
free people of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and to all nations,"
said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
The program, held in the historic Russell Senate Office Building,
was hosted by the Armenian Caucus, which is co-chaired by Congressman
Ed Royce (R-Calif.), the incoming Chairman of the influential Foreign
Affairs Committee, and Congressman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.). Among the
legislators offering powerful statements at the event in support for
Nagorno Karabakh were Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Representatives
Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), David Cicilline (D-R.I.), and Eliot Engel
(D-N.Y.), the incoming Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs
Committee. Representatives Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) and Linda Sanchez
(D-Calif.) participated in the program, meeting with Minister Mirzayan
and joining in the celebration of Artsakh's independence. Senator
Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Representative Jackie Speier (D-Calif.)
shared powerful statements of support for Nagorno Karabakh.
A central theme throughout the evening was the broad-based condemnation
of the Azerbaijani government's praise, pardon, and promotion of
convicted axe-murderer Ramil Safarov as an action that was manifestly
unjust, incited anti-Armenian hatred, and moved the region closer
to conflict and renewed Azerbaijani aggression. Members of Congress
cited Karabakh's democratic and economic progress, even in the face
of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's continuing belligerence,
noting the overwhelmingly positive assessment of the July 2012
presidential elections. Legislators also discussed the need for
continued U.S. support for Karabakh's self-determination, through,
among other things, expanded humanitarian and developmental assistance
to Artsakh.
A highlight of the evening was the ceremony, conducted by the
Ambassador of Armenia, bestowing the Republic of Armenia's "Mkhitar
Gosh" award upon Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Congressman
Brad Sherman (D-Calif.).
After a strong and far-reaching pro-Artsakh statement by Armenia's
Ambassador Tatoul Markarian, and warm words of introduction by Nagorno
Karabakh Representative Robert Avetisyan, the key note address of the
program was offered by Minister Mirzoyan, who, in a moving speech,
voiced his appreciation to the U.S. Congress for its ongoing support
for the developing nation.
Also offering comments on the challenges facing Artsakh and the
region was the highly-regarded former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia,
John Marshall Evans.
December 6, 2012 - 21:40 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - On Dec. 5, U.S. legislators joined on Capitol Hill
with the Nagorno Karabakh Republic's Foreign Minister, Karen Mirzoyan,
in a spirited, standing-room-only celebration of Artsakh's independence
and democratic development.
"We were pleased to join this evening with so many friends of
freedom-in Congress, among our coalition partners, and from our
community - who know that the blessings of liberty belong to the
free people of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and to all nations,"
said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
The program, held in the historic Russell Senate Office Building,
was hosted by the Armenian Caucus, which is co-chaired by Congressman
Ed Royce (R-Calif.), the incoming Chairman of the influential Foreign
Affairs Committee, and Congressman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.). Among the
legislators offering powerful statements at the event in support for
Nagorno Karabakh were Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Representatives
Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), David Cicilline (D-R.I.), and Eliot Engel
(D-N.Y.), the incoming Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs
Committee. Representatives Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) and Linda Sanchez
(D-Calif.) participated in the program, meeting with Minister Mirzayan
and joining in the celebration of Artsakh's independence. Senator
Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Representative Jackie Speier (D-Calif.)
shared powerful statements of support for Nagorno Karabakh.
A central theme throughout the evening was the broad-based condemnation
of the Azerbaijani government's praise, pardon, and promotion of
convicted axe-murderer Ramil Safarov as an action that was manifestly
unjust, incited anti-Armenian hatred, and moved the region closer
to conflict and renewed Azerbaijani aggression. Members of Congress
cited Karabakh's democratic and economic progress, even in the face
of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's continuing belligerence,
noting the overwhelmingly positive assessment of the July 2012
presidential elections. Legislators also discussed the need for
continued U.S. support for Karabakh's self-determination, through,
among other things, expanded humanitarian and developmental assistance
to Artsakh.
A highlight of the evening was the ceremony, conducted by the
Ambassador of Armenia, bestowing the Republic of Armenia's "Mkhitar
Gosh" award upon Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Congressman
Brad Sherman (D-Calif.).
After a strong and far-reaching pro-Artsakh statement by Armenia's
Ambassador Tatoul Markarian, and warm words of introduction by Nagorno
Karabakh Representative Robert Avetisyan, the key note address of the
program was offered by Minister Mirzoyan, who, in a moving speech,
voiced his appreciation to the U.S. Congress for its ongoing support
for the developing nation.
Also offering comments on the challenges facing Artsakh and the
region was the highly-regarded former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia,
John Marshall Evans.