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BREAKING NEWS: RI LEGISLATURE CALLS FOR US TO RECOGNIZE KARABAKH
BY KHATCHIG MOURADIAN
asbarez
Thursday, May 17th, 2012
Speaker Fox welcomes representative Avetisyan (L, standing)
State House Calls on U.S. Government to Recognize Nagorno Karabakh
Republic's Independence
PROVIDENCE, (Armenian Weekly)-The Rhode Island House passed a
resolution today calling on the U.S. President and Congress to
recognize the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The
resolution also encouraged the republic's "continued efforts to
develop as a free and independent nation," and praised Artsakh's
"constructive involvement with the international community and its
efforts to reach a lasting solution to the existing regional problems."
"I thank the Rhode Island House for passing this resolution in support
of Karabakh's aspirations for freedom, and hope that the legislature's
commitment to our shared values of human rights and justice will set
an example for other legislatures in the U.S. and beyond," said Robert
Avetisyan, the permanent representative of NKR in the U.S. and Canada.
The resolution was voted on the House floor in the presence of
Avetisyan, whom House speaker Gordon Fox (D) warmly welcomed in his
introductory remarks. Fox also welcomed a delegation from the local
Armenian community accompanying Avetisyan: Chairman of the Armenian
Cultural Association of R.I. Hagop Donoyan, youth advisor to the AYF
of R.I. Levon Attarian, member of the board of trustees of the Sts.
Vartanantz Church Stephen Elmasian, and member of the ARF Eastern U.S.
Central Committee Ani Haroian.
Dozens of local Armenian-Americans filled the gallery of the House
during the session.
Almost concurrently, on Capitol Hill, Congressmen James Langevin
(D-R.I.) and Congressman David Cicilline (D-R.I.) made statements
on the House floor in support of the people of NKR. Senators Sheldon
Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), in turn, issued statements.
"It is more important than ever that the United States maintain
a principled stand for peace in this region, show that democracy
can be born from conflict, and support Nagorno-Karabakh," said
Langevin. "It is my sincerest hope that Nagorno-Karabakh's right to
self-determination can be affirmed without further loss of life."
"20 years ago, the people of Nagorno Karabakh fought and died for their
independence from Soviet Azeri repression and discrimination," said
Cicilline. "I join the people of Nagorno Karabakh today in recognizing
the 20th anniversary of their independence and the formation of the
Republic's Army and the liberation of Shushi."
Representative Avetisyan will continue his meetings in Rhode Island
over the next several days, pursuing economic development opportunities
for NKR. His visit will conclude on May 20 with a community-wide
celebration of the 20th anniversary of the liberation of Shushi
From: Baghdasarian
BY KHATCHIG MOURADIAN
asbarez
Thursday, May 17th, 2012
Speaker Fox welcomes representative Avetisyan (L, standing)
State House Calls on U.S. Government to Recognize Nagorno Karabakh
Republic's Independence
PROVIDENCE, (Armenian Weekly)-The Rhode Island House passed a
resolution today calling on the U.S. President and Congress to
recognize the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The
resolution also encouraged the republic's "continued efforts to
develop as a free and independent nation," and praised Artsakh's
"constructive involvement with the international community and its
efforts to reach a lasting solution to the existing regional problems."
"I thank the Rhode Island House for passing this resolution in support
of Karabakh's aspirations for freedom, and hope that the legislature's
commitment to our shared values of human rights and justice will set
an example for other legislatures in the U.S. and beyond," said Robert
Avetisyan, the permanent representative of NKR in the U.S. and Canada.
The resolution was voted on the House floor in the presence of
Avetisyan, whom House speaker Gordon Fox (D) warmly welcomed in his
introductory remarks. Fox also welcomed a delegation from the local
Armenian community accompanying Avetisyan: Chairman of the Armenian
Cultural Association of R.I. Hagop Donoyan, youth advisor to the AYF
of R.I. Levon Attarian, member of the board of trustees of the Sts.
Vartanantz Church Stephen Elmasian, and member of the ARF Eastern U.S.
Central Committee Ani Haroian.
Dozens of local Armenian-Americans filled the gallery of the House
during the session.
Almost concurrently, on Capitol Hill, Congressmen James Langevin
(D-R.I.) and Congressman David Cicilline (D-R.I.) made statements
on the House floor in support of the people of NKR. Senators Sheldon
Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), in turn, issued statements.
"It is more important than ever that the United States maintain
a principled stand for peace in this region, show that democracy
can be born from conflict, and support Nagorno-Karabakh," said
Langevin. "It is my sincerest hope that Nagorno-Karabakh's right to
self-determination can be affirmed without further loss of life."
"20 years ago, the people of Nagorno Karabakh fought and died for their
independence from Soviet Azeri repression and discrimination," said
Cicilline. "I join the people of Nagorno Karabakh today in recognizing
the 20th anniversary of their independence and the formation of the
Republic's Army and the liberation of Shushi."
Representative Avetisyan will continue his meetings in Rhode Island
over the next several days, pursuing economic development opportunities
for NKR. His visit will conclude on May 20 with a community-wide
celebration of the 20th anniversary of the liberation of Shushi
From: Baghdasarian