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AZERBAIJAN THREATENS FRESNO COUNTY
http://asbarez.com/109833/azerbaijan-threatens-fresno-county/
Tuesday, May 7th, 2013
Fresno County
FRESNO-The Fresno County Board of Supervisors became the newest
target of Azerbaijan's wrath after the local body passed a
resolution recognizing the self-determination of the people of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and its independence last month.
The Fresno Bee reported Tuesday that Azerbaijan has officially
written to the Board of Supervisors urging the body to rescind the
April 23 resolution.
Fresno County became the first County in California to officially
recognize the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (Artsakh).
On April 23, the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution sponsored
by Supervisor Andreas Borgeas that officially recognizes the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic - a region historically and ethnically Armenian
situated between Armenia and Azerbaijan - and also calls upon the
California Legislature to grant official recognition.
The Permanent Representative of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the
United States, Robert Avetisyan, commented at the time that "[w]e
are grateful for [this] initiative, and hope that the adoption of
this Resolution will set a deeper cooperation towards stability,
as well as democratic and economic prosperity in our region." The
Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles, Grigor
Hovhannisian, commented that "[e]very step toward the recognition
of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is a step toward peace and friendly
relations in the South Caucasus. I whole-heartedly welcome recognition
efforts by community and elected officials, as a continuation of
friendly relations and solidarity between the people of the Republic
of Artsakh, the Republic of Armenia and Fresno, California."
"This fuels fighting between the communities," Azerbaijani Deputy
Consul General Ramil Gurbanov, who is based in Los Angeles, told
The Fresno Bee on Monday. It doesn't help achieve "a diplomatic and
peaceful solution in the region."
"We stand with our Armenian friends, both in Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh ... We will not be muscled by a well-funded lobbying
effort by the Azerbaijanis," said Borgeas told the Fresno Bee,
indicating that the Board of Supervisors will not budge from its
earlier decision.
Following the passage of the resolution on April 23 Borgeas said,
"I am thrilled to stand beside our Armenian friends - here, in
Armenia and Artsakh - and hope Sacramento will also officially
recognize the independence of NKR. While Fresno County is the first
County in California to pass such a resolution, my goal is for this
initiative to help inspire more recognition efforts throughout the
state, country and eventually Washington, D.C."
"[T]his resolution by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors is timely,
appropriate and significant," William Bairamian, Executive Director
of the Armenian National Committee - Western Region commented at the
time. State legislatures in Maine, Rhode Island and Massachusetts
have already passed similar resolutions.
http://asbarez.com/109833/azerbaijan-threatens-fresno-county/
Tuesday, May 7th, 2013
Fresno County
FRESNO-The Fresno County Board of Supervisors became the newest
target of Azerbaijan's wrath after the local body passed a
resolution recognizing the self-determination of the people of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and its independence last month.
The Fresno Bee reported Tuesday that Azerbaijan has officially
written to the Board of Supervisors urging the body to rescind the
April 23 resolution.
Fresno County became the first County in California to officially
recognize the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (Artsakh).
On April 23, the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution sponsored
by Supervisor Andreas Borgeas that officially recognizes the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic - a region historically and ethnically Armenian
situated between Armenia and Azerbaijan - and also calls upon the
California Legislature to grant official recognition.
The Permanent Representative of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the
United States, Robert Avetisyan, commented at the time that "[w]e
are grateful for [this] initiative, and hope that the adoption of
this Resolution will set a deeper cooperation towards stability,
as well as democratic and economic prosperity in our region." The
Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles, Grigor
Hovhannisian, commented that "[e]very step toward the recognition
of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is a step toward peace and friendly
relations in the South Caucasus. I whole-heartedly welcome recognition
efforts by community and elected officials, as a continuation of
friendly relations and solidarity between the people of the Republic
of Artsakh, the Republic of Armenia and Fresno, California."
"This fuels fighting between the communities," Azerbaijani Deputy
Consul General Ramil Gurbanov, who is based in Los Angeles, told
The Fresno Bee on Monday. It doesn't help achieve "a diplomatic and
peaceful solution in the region."
"We stand with our Armenian friends, both in Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh ... We will not be muscled by a well-funded lobbying
effort by the Azerbaijanis," said Borgeas told the Fresno Bee,
indicating that the Board of Supervisors will not budge from its
earlier decision.
Following the passage of the resolution on April 23 Borgeas said,
"I am thrilled to stand beside our Armenian friends - here, in
Armenia and Artsakh - and hope Sacramento will also officially
recognize the independence of NKR. While Fresno County is the first
County in California to pass such a resolution, my goal is for this
initiative to help inspire more recognition efforts throughout the
state, country and eventually Washington, D.C."
"[T]his resolution by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors is timely,
appropriate and significant," William Bairamian, Executive Director
of the Armenian National Committee - Western Region commented at the
time. State legislatures in Maine, Rhode Island and Massachusetts
have already passed similar resolutions.