Armenian Assembly Welcomes Historic Visit to Armenia By Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) arrive in Armenia

Washington, D.C. - The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) welcomes the historic visit of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to the Republic of Armenia. The Speaker's visit comes as Azerbaijan's military attacked Armenia this week, shelling civilian-populated centers along Armenia’s eastern and southeastern borders in clear violation of the terms of the November 9, 2020 trilateral ceasefire statement.

"Speaker Pelosi's visit to Armenia sends a signal to the entire region on the real meaning of American values," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "The presence of Speaker Pelosi in Armenia, the highest ranking U.S. official to visit Armenia since independence, conveys symbolic strength and the critical importance of preserving democracy."

Speaker Pelosi is accompanied by Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr (D-NJ), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Jackie Speier (D-CA).

Speaker Pelosi stated: "Our Congressional delegation’s visit to Armenia is a powerful symbol of the United States’ firm commitment to a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Armenia, and a stable and secure Caucasus region. In working meetings with government leaders, civil society members and members of the security establishment, we will convey the strong and ongoing support of the United States, as an OSCE Minsk Chair and longtime friend to Armenia, for a lasting settlement to the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh."

The Assembly appreciates Speaker Pelosi's leadership in the decades since the Republic of Armenia's independence. Speaker Pelosi has a strong record of supporting the Armenian people. A champion of human rights, Speaker Pelosi strongly supported U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide, and delivered remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives in support of H.Res. 296, which overwhelmingly passed in the House in 2019 and affirmed the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide.

In a statement announcing the delegation’s visit, the Speaker stated:

"We are proud to travel to Yerevan following the 2019 passage of House Resolution 296, introduced by Chairman Adam Schiff, which recognizes the murder of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as genocide, and following President Biden becoming the first president to formally acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. It is the moral duty of all to never forget: an obligation that has taken on heightened urgency as atrocities are perpetrated around the globe, including by Russia against Ukraine."

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(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

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