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(L-R): Armenian Assembly Communications Director Taniel Koushakjian, Kathryn Porter, Rep. Robert Dold (R-IL), Nagorno Karabakh Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) joined the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues in co-hosting the annual Nagorno Karabakh/Artsakh independence celebration on Capitol Hill, alongside the U.S. Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR), the Embassy of Armenia in the U.S., and the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). Last night’s event was in celebration of “Freedom and Democracy of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic,” marking the 24th anniversary of independence.
Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Robert Dold (R-IL) opened the program. He was joined by fellow Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) who gave remarks, and introduced keynote speaker NKR Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan. Also in attendance at the celebratory event was House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), as well as Reps. Judy Chu (D-CA), Katherine Clark (D-MA), Jim Costa (D-CA), and Dina Titus (D-NV).
(L-R): NKR Representative to the U.S. Robert Avetisyan, Armenian Assembly Communications Director Taniel Koushakjian, NKR Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan, Armenian Assembly Public Affairs Associate Danielle Saroyan, Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Tigran Sargsyan, and Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
Armenia’s Ambassador to the U.S. Tigran Sargsyan, NKR Representative to the U.S. Robert Avetisyan, U.S. OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Ambassador James Warlick, former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, Westbrook (Maine) City Councilor Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte, and many others attended the Capitol Hill celebration.
Diocesan Legate of the Armenian Church of America Archbishop Vicken Aykazian and St. Mary Armenian Church of Washington, D.C. Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetian performed the invocation and benediction.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA)
During his 3-day trip to Washington, Mirzoyan met with U.S. government officials, Members of Congress, and Armenian American community leaders. Prior to the Capitol Hill event, Mirzoyan visited the Assembly headquarters to meet with Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. Mirzoyan and Ardouny discussed ways to strengthen the U.S.–Nagorno Karabakh bilateral relationship, critical U.S. assistance to Karabakh, updates on the increased Azerbaijan attacks along the line of contact, as well as regional and global challenges. Mirzoyan thanked the Assembly for its steadfast commitment to the people of Artsakh and for the Assembly’s work in Karabakh and Armenia.
On the 24th anniversary of NKR on September 2, 2015, Co-Chairs of the Congressional Armenian Caucus Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Robert J. Dold (R-IL) wrote a letter congratulating NKR President Bako Sahakyan and the people of Artsakh on their independence. The co-chairs noted that “the formation of the [Artsakh] republic in 1991 opened a path towards freedom and democracy, and your people continue to demonstrate their dedication to these universal values.” In the letter, Reps. Pallone and Dold also expressed support to Artsakh’s “efforts toward international recognition, and look forward to the day when it assumes its deserved place in the community of nations.”
House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
As Members of Congress were set to gather on Capitol Hill to mark the freedom movement of Karabakh Armenians, Azerbaijan’s military again launched attacks on Nagorno Karabakh, this time using heavy tank fire for the first time since the ceasefire was signed in 1994. U.S. Ambassador Warlick personally witnessed Azerbaijan’s ceasefire violations on the frontline as the OSCE Minsk Group delegation came under fire when visiting the region in October.
The annual Capitol Hill celebration is an opportunity for the U.S. and Nagorno Karabakh to reinforce their bilateral partnership. According to State Department coordinator for U.S. assistance to the former Soviet Union Alina Romanowski the U.S. will continue to finance humanitarian projects in Nagorno Karabakh as part of the annual economic assistance package appropriated by the U.S. Congress.
At least $44.5 million in direct aid to Karabakh has been approved by Congress since 1998. The majority of the aid goes toward humanitarian efforts, demining operations, and the reconstruction of the NKR’s water distribution network. The Assembly has also worked towards demining initiatives in Karabakh in cooperation with HALO Trust and the Marshal Legacy Institute.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501©(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
Additional photographs from the Capitol Hill event are available on the Assembly’s Facebook Page.
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