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Reps. Chu, Grimm, Nunes and Valadao Celebrate Karabakh's Freedom
http://asbarez.com/108672/reps-chu-grimm-nunes-and-valadao-celebrate-karabakhs-freedom/
Friday, March 8th, 2013
A protester is gagged during his arrest at a protest in Baku,
Azerbaijan. March 12, 2011
Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), Michael Grimm
(R-NY) and Devin Nunes (R-CA)
Azerbaijani Embassy Seeking to Enforce Baku-Style Free Speech Limits
on U.S. Congress
WASHINGTON - Members of Congress continued to salute the 25th
anniversary of Nagorno Karabakh's freedom movement this week, with
Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA), Michael Grimm (R-NY), Devin Nunes
(R-CA) and David Valadao (R-CA) the latest to speak out in support of
Artsakh's quarter century of steady growth as a democratic state and
society, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.
`We want to thank Reps. Chu, Grimm, Nunes and Valadao for joining in
Artsakh's celebration of a remarkable quarter century of freedom,'
said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. `In the face of Baku's
war and ongoing aggression, the proud citizens of Nagorno Karabakh
have stood strong, building a solid democracy, and fundamentally
reaffirming that - despite Ilham Aliyev's angry tirades - the
blessings of liberty that we enjoy as Americans are truly the
birthright of all peoples.'
A protester is gagged during his arrest at a protest in Baku,
Azerbaijan. March 12, 2011
In a joint statement for the Congressional Record, Representatives
Nunes and Valadao paid `homage to the Armenian people and particularly
the people of Nagorno Karabakh, who bravely struggle to maintain their
right to self-determination.' They went on to note: `the Armenians
have suffered some of the worst savagery of recent history, from the
massacre of more than a million people in the Armenian Genocide, to
the cruel repression of Soviet rule, to Azerbaijan's war against
Nagorno Karabakh and the ongoing siege of that region. Through these
trials and tribulations, the Armenian people have paid a steep price
for their freedom. The hero's welcome Azerbaijan recently afforded to
Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani military officer who murdered a sleeping
Armenian officer during a NATO-sponsored program in Hungary, is a
stark reminder of the unrelenting hostility Armenians face today.'
New York Congressman Michael Grimm praised the progress made by the
fledgling Nagorno Karabakh Republic over the past 25 years. `The
Nagorno Karabakh Republic's steady advances in the industries of
banking, agriculture, and telecommunications, provide further
testament to their promise as a viable independent partner in the
international community,' stated Rep. Grimm. `Coupling this with the
United States' longstanding and unambiguous role as a defender of free
people's right to self-determination across the globe, I hope that my
colleagues will join me in commemorating the 25th anniversary of the
Nagorno Karabakh liberation movement as part of the promotion of
peace, stability, and prosperity in the South Caucusus.'
Congresswoman Chu, who spoke forcefully on the topic once again this
year, noted: `In 1991, Nagorno -Karabakh officially declared
independence, becoming a democratic state committed to freedom and
respect for human rights. Despite dual blockades and threats from
neighboring Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh has held a series of
democratic elections and continues to work hard to strengthen its
economy. I stand with the people of Nagorno-Karabakh in this noble
pursuit.'
Embassy of Azerbaijan Seeks to Silence Congressional Karabakh Commemoration
Meanwhile, even as Members of Congress prepare to celebrate the 25th
anniversary of the Karabakh freedom movement at an event hosted by the
Congressional Armenian Caucus next week, the Azerbaijani Embassy and
pro-Aliyev groups in Washington, DC have sought to block this event by
enforcing free speech restrictions that, while common in Baku, are
profoundly foreign to the American democratic tradition.
According to Capitol Hill sources, Azerbaijan Ambassador to the U.S.
Elin Suleymanov has urged Members of Congress not to attend the
Karabakh celebration. This follows remarks he made earlier this week
at the American Israeli Public Affairs Council (AIPAC) Policy
Conference, in which he attempted to demonize the Armenian American
community, warning supporters of Israel not to `fall under the
influence of pro-Armenian lobby groups.'
`This type of strong-arming may stifle free speech in Aliyev's
Azerbaijan, but Ambassador Suleymanov has a lot to learn about America
if he thinks his desperate threats will work in the halls of our
Congress,' said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
The Congressional Caucus event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., in the
Cannon House Office Building - Room 121 and will feature remarks by
the NKR Minister of Youth and Culture Narine Aghabalian. The event is
being hosted by the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, with the
participation of the Embassy of Armenia, Office of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, and Armenian American civic organizations.
The ANCA encourages Armenian Americans to call their Senators and
Representative to participate in the March 13th Capitol Hill
Celebration by visiting:
http://www.anca.org/action_alerts/action_disp.php?aaid=62195141
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://asbarez.com/108672/reps-chu-grimm-nunes-and-valadao-celebrate-karabakhs-freedom/
Friday, March 8th, 2013
A protester is gagged during his arrest at a protest in Baku,
Azerbaijan. March 12, 2011
Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), Michael Grimm
(R-NY) and Devin Nunes (R-CA)
Azerbaijani Embassy Seeking to Enforce Baku-Style Free Speech Limits
on U.S. Congress
WASHINGTON - Members of Congress continued to salute the 25th
anniversary of Nagorno Karabakh's freedom movement this week, with
Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA), Michael Grimm (R-NY), Devin Nunes
(R-CA) and David Valadao (R-CA) the latest to speak out in support of
Artsakh's quarter century of steady growth as a democratic state and
society, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.
`We want to thank Reps. Chu, Grimm, Nunes and Valadao for joining in
Artsakh's celebration of a remarkable quarter century of freedom,'
said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. `In the face of Baku's
war and ongoing aggression, the proud citizens of Nagorno Karabakh
have stood strong, building a solid democracy, and fundamentally
reaffirming that - despite Ilham Aliyev's angry tirades - the
blessings of liberty that we enjoy as Americans are truly the
birthright of all peoples.'
A protester is gagged during his arrest at a protest in Baku,
Azerbaijan. March 12, 2011
In a joint statement for the Congressional Record, Representatives
Nunes and Valadao paid `homage to the Armenian people and particularly
the people of Nagorno Karabakh, who bravely struggle to maintain their
right to self-determination.' They went on to note: `the Armenians
have suffered some of the worst savagery of recent history, from the
massacre of more than a million people in the Armenian Genocide, to
the cruel repression of Soviet rule, to Azerbaijan's war against
Nagorno Karabakh and the ongoing siege of that region. Through these
trials and tribulations, the Armenian people have paid a steep price
for their freedom. The hero's welcome Azerbaijan recently afforded to
Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani military officer who murdered a sleeping
Armenian officer during a NATO-sponsored program in Hungary, is a
stark reminder of the unrelenting hostility Armenians face today.'
New York Congressman Michael Grimm praised the progress made by the
fledgling Nagorno Karabakh Republic over the past 25 years. `The
Nagorno Karabakh Republic's steady advances in the industries of
banking, agriculture, and telecommunications, provide further
testament to their promise as a viable independent partner in the
international community,' stated Rep. Grimm. `Coupling this with the
United States' longstanding and unambiguous role as a defender of free
people's right to self-determination across the globe, I hope that my
colleagues will join me in commemorating the 25th anniversary of the
Nagorno Karabakh liberation movement as part of the promotion of
peace, stability, and prosperity in the South Caucusus.'
Congresswoman Chu, who spoke forcefully on the topic once again this
year, noted: `In 1991, Nagorno -Karabakh officially declared
independence, becoming a democratic state committed to freedom and
respect for human rights. Despite dual blockades and threats from
neighboring Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh has held a series of
democratic elections and continues to work hard to strengthen its
economy. I stand with the people of Nagorno-Karabakh in this noble
pursuit.'
Embassy of Azerbaijan Seeks to Silence Congressional Karabakh Commemoration
Meanwhile, even as Members of Congress prepare to celebrate the 25th
anniversary of the Karabakh freedom movement at an event hosted by the
Congressional Armenian Caucus next week, the Azerbaijani Embassy and
pro-Aliyev groups in Washington, DC have sought to block this event by
enforcing free speech restrictions that, while common in Baku, are
profoundly foreign to the American democratic tradition.
According to Capitol Hill sources, Azerbaijan Ambassador to the U.S.
Elin Suleymanov has urged Members of Congress not to attend the
Karabakh celebration. This follows remarks he made earlier this week
at the American Israeli Public Affairs Council (AIPAC) Policy
Conference, in which he attempted to demonize the Armenian American
community, warning supporters of Israel not to `fall under the
influence of pro-Armenian lobby groups.'
`This type of strong-arming may stifle free speech in Aliyev's
Azerbaijan, but Ambassador Suleymanov has a lot to learn about America
if he thinks his desperate threats will work in the halls of our
Congress,' said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
The Congressional Caucus event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., in the
Cannon House Office Building - Room 121 and will feature remarks by
the NKR Minister of Youth and Culture Narine Aghabalian. The event is
being hosted by the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, with the
participation of the Embassy of Armenia, Office of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, and Armenian American civic organizations.
The ANCA encourages Armenian Americans to call their Senators and
Representative to participate in the March 13th Capitol Hill
Celebration by visiting:
http://www.anca.org/action_alerts/action_disp.php?aaid=62195141
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress