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Targeted News Service
December 12, 2012 Wednesday 10:31 PM EST
Mkhitar Gosh Medal Presented to Sherman
WASHINGTON
Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif. (27th CD), issued the following news release:
Last night, Congressman Brad Sherman was presented the Mkhitar Gosh
medal at a Congressional celebration of the 21st anniversary of the
independence of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. Earlier this year,
President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia awarded the Mkhitar Gosh Medal to
Sherman for his efforts to enhance U.S.-Armenian relations and to
achieve international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Mkhitar
Gosh was an important Armenian scholar, clergyman, and codifier of the
Armenian civil and canon laws.
Sherman, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has
been leading efforts since 1997 to provide U.S. aid to the people of
Artsakh.
Earlier in the day, Sherman also met with the Foreign Minister of the
Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Karen Mirzoyan, to discuss ways to
expand cooperation between the U.S., Armenia, and Nagorno-Karabakh.
The following are excerpts of Sherman's remarks at the celebration last night:
"I thank the President of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, for
honoring me with the Mkhitar Gosh medal in recognition of my efforts
to expand U.S.-Armenia ties and recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Thank you, Ambassador Tatoul Markarian, for this award. I am
privileged to receive this honor.
I would like to recognize and thank the esteemed Foreign Minister of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Mr. Karen Mirzoyan, for joining us
tonight. Congratulations to you and your citizens on the 21st
anniversary of Artsakh's independence. On December 10, 1991, Nagorno
Karabakh held an independence referendum and overwhelmingly voted for
independence.
Today we celebrate Artsakh's freedom and independence. Artsakh
continues to strengthen its democracy and held its fifth presidential
election this year. The election in July 2012 was monitored and deemed
free and fair by international observers.
Despite Azerbaijan's deeply unjust blockade and a devastating war in
from 1991 to 1994, Artsakh continues to solidify its democracy and
improve its economy. Nagorno Karabakh has been successful in its
transition from a state-run economy to a market economy, which helped
achieve steady economic growth.
I was the first member of Congress to introduce legislation for direct
aid to Nagorno-Karabakh. In 1997, I introduced an amendment during the
House International Relations Committee's consideration of a foreign
aid authorization bill for fiscal year 1998 for direct US humanitarian
aid to Nagorno Karabakh. While this amendment did not pass, it
accelerated the movement for direct U.S. aid to Artsakh.
In September 2012, I backed Nagorno-Karabakh's efforts to reopen the
airport in Stepanakert. The opening has been delayed several times.
Unfortunately, officials in Baku have threatened to shoot down
civilian planes traveling to Stepanakert. It is time for that airport
to open.
I condemn Baku's pardoning and freeing of an Azeri axe-murderer, Ramil
Safarov , who was imprisoned in Hungary for killing an innocent
Armenian officer in his sleep in Budapest. We must hold Azerbaijan
accountable for this grave injustice.
Thank you."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
December 12, 2012 Wednesday 10:31 PM EST
Mkhitar Gosh Medal Presented to Sherman
WASHINGTON
Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif. (27th CD), issued the following news release:
Last night, Congressman Brad Sherman was presented the Mkhitar Gosh
medal at a Congressional celebration of the 21st anniversary of the
independence of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. Earlier this year,
President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia awarded the Mkhitar Gosh Medal to
Sherman for his efforts to enhance U.S.-Armenian relations and to
achieve international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Mkhitar
Gosh was an important Armenian scholar, clergyman, and codifier of the
Armenian civil and canon laws.
Sherman, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has
been leading efforts since 1997 to provide U.S. aid to the people of
Artsakh.
Earlier in the day, Sherman also met with the Foreign Minister of the
Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Karen Mirzoyan, to discuss ways to
expand cooperation between the U.S., Armenia, and Nagorno-Karabakh.
The following are excerpts of Sherman's remarks at the celebration last night:
"I thank the President of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, for
honoring me with the Mkhitar Gosh medal in recognition of my efforts
to expand U.S.-Armenia ties and recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Thank you, Ambassador Tatoul Markarian, for this award. I am
privileged to receive this honor.
I would like to recognize and thank the esteemed Foreign Minister of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Mr. Karen Mirzoyan, for joining us
tonight. Congratulations to you and your citizens on the 21st
anniversary of Artsakh's independence. On December 10, 1991, Nagorno
Karabakh held an independence referendum and overwhelmingly voted for
independence.
Today we celebrate Artsakh's freedom and independence. Artsakh
continues to strengthen its democracy and held its fifth presidential
election this year. The election in July 2012 was monitored and deemed
free and fair by international observers.
Despite Azerbaijan's deeply unjust blockade and a devastating war in
from 1991 to 1994, Artsakh continues to solidify its democracy and
improve its economy. Nagorno Karabakh has been successful in its
transition from a state-run economy to a market economy, which helped
achieve steady economic growth.
I was the first member of Congress to introduce legislation for direct
aid to Nagorno-Karabakh. In 1997, I introduced an amendment during the
House International Relations Committee's consideration of a foreign
aid authorization bill for fiscal year 1998 for direct US humanitarian
aid to Nagorno Karabakh. While this amendment did not pass, it
accelerated the movement for direct U.S. aid to Artsakh.
In September 2012, I backed Nagorno-Karabakh's efforts to reopen the
airport in Stepanakert. The opening has been delayed several times.
Unfortunately, officials in Baku have threatened to shoot down
civilian planes traveling to Stepanakert. It is time for that airport
to open.
I condemn Baku's pardoning and freeing of an Azeri axe-murderer, Ramil
Safarov , who was imprisoned in Hungary for killing an innocent
Armenian officer in his sleep in Budapest. We must hold Azerbaijan
accountable for this grave injustice.
Thank you."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress