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SPEAKER PEREZ RESPONDS TO AZERI THREATS
http://asbarez.com/114405/speaker-perez-responds-to-azeri-threats/
Friday, September 27th, 2013
by Ara Khachatourian
Speaker Perez (left-center) discusses issues with Artsakh President
Bako Sahakian during their meeting in Yerevan last week
Asks to be included in Baku's notorious "black list"
BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN
LOS ANGELES-In a rebuke to Azeri efforts to discredit elected
officials, California State Assembly Speaker John Perez, who just
returned from a visit to Armenia, responded to a threat from Azeri
Consul General in Los Angeles of being included in a so-called "black
list" of people visiting the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
Ahead of the California state and local officials visit to Armenia
and Artsakh, the Azeri Consul General Nasimi Aghayev sent a letter
to the non-Armenian officials in the delegation threatening that if
they travel to the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, official Baku would
deem them personae non gratae and include them in a "black list"
that so far boasts more than 300 foreign officials.
Perez was never scheduled to travel to Artsakh due to prior commitments
in California. Yet his absence from the Artsakh leg of the trip was
characterized by Azeri officials and media as him having caved into
Azeri pressures.
In a letter addressed to Aghayev by Perez and obtained by Asbarez, the
speaker clarifies his travel itinerary and urges the Consul General
to add his name on the "black list" if Baku opts to characterize any
member of his delegation as a persona non-grata.
"Please be advised that if the Republic of Azerbaijan does, in fact,
add any California official to the list of persona non grata you
should immediately add my name as well," wrote Perez to Aghayev.
"Had you inquired before sending your letter, you would have learned
that at no time did my itinerary include visiting Nagorno-Karabakh,"
explained Perez.
"That said, I must not let go unanswered any attempt to dictate
the travel plans of duly elected representatives of the State of
California. Further, raising the threat of making California elected
officials persona non grata in your country hardly seems conducive
to building a strong and mutually beneficial relationship," added
Perez in direct response to the threats made by Aghayev and Baku.
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakian met with Perez and
delegation in Yerevan before the speaker's departure.
"My colleagues and I are fully aware of the circumstances in
Nagorno-Karabakh as well as the important relationships that the
United States has with both the Republic of Armenia and the Republic
of Azerbaijan. I unequivocally support our government's efforts to
bring about a peaceful resolution to this situation, and I share
the sentiments of President Obama when he joined with the Presidents
of France and the Russian Federation to declare their commitment to
helping the parties reach a lasting and peaceful settlement. It is
in that spirit that I respond to your letter," explained Perez.
The Perez-led delegation included Assemblymembers Katcho Achajian,
Cheryl R. Brown, Adrin Nazarian and Scott Wilk. A Los Angeles City
Council delegation also visiting Armenia includes Bob Blumenfield and
Paul Krekorian and staff. They arrived in Armenia on September 17 at
the invitation of the Armenian government. After Perez left Armenia,
the remainder of the delegation visited Artsakh, where they met with
government officials and toured the country.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region played
a key role in organizing the delegation visit to Armenia and was
represented by its board chairwoman Nora Hovsepian and Executive
Director Elen Asatryan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://asbarez.com/114405/speaker-perez-responds-to-azeri-threats/
Friday, September 27th, 2013
by Ara Khachatourian
Speaker Perez (left-center) discusses issues with Artsakh President
Bako Sahakian during their meeting in Yerevan last week
Asks to be included in Baku's notorious "black list"
BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN
LOS ANGELES-In a rebuke to Azeri efforts to discredit elected
officials, California State Assembly Speaker John Perez, who just
returned from a visit to Armenia, responded to a threat from Azeri
Consul General in Los Angeles of being included in a so-called "black
list" of people visiting the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
Ahead of the California state and local officials visit to Armenia
and Artsakh, the Azeri Consul General Nasimi Aghayev sent a letter
to the non-Armenian officials in the delegation threatening that if
they travel to the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, official Baku would
deem them personae non gratae and include them in a "black list"
that so far boasts more than 300 foreign officials.
Perez was never scheduled to travel to Artsakh due to prior commitments
in California. Yet his absence from the Artsakh leg of the trip was
characterized by Azeri officials and media as him having caved into
Azeri pressures.
In a letter addressed to Aghayev by Perez and obtained by Asbarez, the
speaker clarifies his travel itinerary and urges the Consul General
to add his name on the "black list" if Baku opts to characterize any
member of his delegation as a persona non-grata.
"Please be advised that if the Republic of Azerbaijan does, in fact,
add any California official to the list of persona non grata you
should immediately add my name as well," wrote Perez to Aghayev.
"Had you inquired before sending your letter, you would have learned
that at no time did my itinerary include visiting Nagorno-Karabakh,"
explained Perez.
"That said, I must not let go unanswered any attempt to dictate
the travel plans of duly elected representatives of the State of
California. Further, raising the threat of making California elected
officials persona non grata in your country hardly seems conducive
to building a strong and mutually beneficial relationship," added
Perez in direct response to the threats made by Aghayev and Baku.
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakian met with Perez and
delegation in Yerevan before the speaker's departure.
"My colleagues and I are fully aware of the circumstances in
Nagorno-Karabakh as well as the important relationships that the
United States has with both the Republic of Armenia and the Republic
of Azerbaijan. I unequivocally support our government's efforts to
bring about a peaceful resolution to this situation, and I share
the sentiments of President Obama when he joined with the Presidents
of France and the Russian Federation to declare their commitment to
helping the parties reach a lasting and peaceful settlement. It is
in that spirit that I respond to your letter," explained Perez.
The Perez-led delegation included Assemblymembers Katcho Achajian,
Cheryl R. Brown, Adrin Nazarian and Scott Wilk. A Los Angeles City
Council delegation also visiting Armenia includes Bob Blumenfield and
Paul Krekorian and staff. They arrived in Armenia on September 17 at
the invitation of the Armenian government. After Perez left Armenia,
the remainder of the delegation visited Artsakh, where they met with
government officials and toured the country.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region played
a key role in organizing the delegation visit to Armenia and was
represented by its board chairwoman Nora Hovsepian and Executive
Director Elen Asatryan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress