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NKR OFFICIAL: RHODE ISLAND H. RES. ON KARABAKH MAY SET A PRECEDENT WORLDWIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
May 18, 2012 - 20:04 AMT
The chairman of the NKR National Assembly Committee on Foreign
Relations commented on the Rhode Island House resolution calling on
the U.S. President and Congress to recognize the independence of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
As Vahram Atanesyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, welcome though
it is, the resolution won't be able to affect the stance of the U.S.
executive authorities.
"Resolutions or urges of the legislative bodies go widely ignored
by U.S. executive authorities," the NKR official said, citing as an
example the Armenian Genocide resolution, adopted by the majority of
U.S. states, while unacknowledged by the federal executive authorities.
Nevertheless, the official stressed, the Rhode Island House resolution
may set a precedent for other U.S. States as well as executive
authorities worldwide.
The Rhode Island House passed a resolution calling on the U.S.
President and Congress to recognize the independence of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic (NKR.
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 to 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."
PanARMENIAN.Net
May 18, 2012 - 20:04 AMT
The chairman of the NKR National Assembly Committee on Foreign
Relations commented on the Rhode Island House resolution calling on
the U.S. President and Congress to recognize the independence of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
As Vahram Atanesyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, welcome though
it is, the resolution won't be able to affect the stance of the U.S.
executive authorities.
"Resolutions or urges of the legislative bodies go widely ignored
by U.S. executive authorities," the NKR official said, citing as an
example the Armenian Genocide resolution, adopted by the majority of
U.S. states, while unacknowledged by the federal executive authorities.
Nevertheless, the official stressed, the Rhode Island House resolution
may set a precedent for other U.S. States as well as executive
authorities worldwide.
The Rhode Island House passed a resolution calling on the U.S.
President and Congress to recognize the independence of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic (NKR.
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 to 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."