NKR President’s Meetings In California

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
24 Nov 04

The Armenian community of California supported the aspiration of
their compatriots of the eastern states of the USA to increase aid
to Nagorni Karabakh.

Like the Armenians of Boston, New York, Detroit and other cities of
the USA the Armenians of California are eager to take part actively in
the November 25 telethon aimed to raise money for the construction
of the road “North-South” which has a strategic importance for
NKR. The evidence to this is the results of the meeting of the NKR
president Arkady Ghukassian with the representatives of the Armenian
community of California where he arrived on November 19. During the
meeting with a group of Armenian businessmen and benefactors at the
town of New Port Beech, among them Levon and Zara Ghukassian, Ralf
and Savy Tufenkian, Costy and Maryann, as well as Hakob and Maria
Shirvanian told their intention of making their own contribution to
the development of Artsakh. At the same time they pointed out that the
activity of the Armenian community of the USA is directly related to
the increasing confidence in the NKR president and the democratic and
economic reforms undertaken by him. This idea was highlighted during
all the meetings of Arkady Ghukassian in America, especially during
the receptions organized by the board of chairmen of the Armenian
General Benevolent Union and the California branch of the AGBU. In
his address the director of the branch Vahe Imastunian stressed the
importance of the NKR president’s visit to the USA in promoting the
relationships between Artsakh and the Armenian community. In his
turn Ghukassian thanked them for their frank wish to help Artsakh,
and this means that hopefully this year the necessary financial
means will be obtained for finishing the construction of the road,
and next year it will be possible to start the implementation of
other important programs for the overall development of Artsakh. At
the same time he emphasized that during the upcoming telethon the
active participation of the Diaspora will show to the world once again
that they are not apart from the fate of Artsakh. Arkady and Irina
Hovhannissian also promised to participate in the telethon during
the meeting with the NKR president. During the press conference with
local Armenian journalists Arkady Ghukassian again touched upon the
social and economic development of Artsakh and the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. “Artsakh won the war imposed on it owing to the
support of Armenia and the Diaspora,” stated the NKR president. “I am
sure that together we will achieve similar results in the economic
confrontation.” Speaking about the prospects of settlement of the
Karabakh conflict Arkady Ghukassian emphasized that it goes without
saying that Nagorni Karabakh cannot be within Azerbaijan. “We aim
to achieve the de jure recognition of Nagorni Karabakh,” stated
the NKR president. He gave a negative evaluation of the actions of
Baku authorities trying to set forth the question of the so-called
“occupied territories” for discussion at the UN and characterized
these actions as provocative steps. According to him, such steps of
Baku aggravate the already complicated Karabakh issue. The president
of NKR mentioned that the problems of territory and refugees were the
consequences of the military aggression of Azerbaijan against Nagorni
Karabakh. “The main issue of the conflict is the status of Nagorni
Karabakh,” stated Arkady Ghukassian and added that neglecting the
question of Nagorni Karabakh status renders meaningless the discussion
of all the other questions related to overcoming the consequences of
the military confrontation. On November 22 Arkady Ghukassian attended
the Sunday service at the church Saint Karapet in Hollywood served by
the archbishop of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Parghev Martirossian. The meetings of the NKR president are continuing.

AA.
24-11-2004