PALLONE AND KNOLLBERG CONGRATULATE PEOPLE OF NKR
Azg/arm
19 Feb 05
Dear President Ghoukasian and the people of Nagorno Karabakh:
We congratulate the people of Nagorno Karabakh on the seventeenth
anniversary of the Nagorno Karabakh Freedom Movement. As we all know,
the Karabakh Movement was the first sustained campaign for freedom in
the former Soviet Union. On February 20, 1988 the people of Nagorno
Karabakh officially petitioned the Soviet government to correct the
historical injustices of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin by reuniting
the area with Armenia.
This peaceful and legal request was met with violent reactions from
the central Soviet and Azerbaijani leadership, which escalated into
full military aggression against Nagorno Karabakh. The people of
Nagorno Karabakh bravely defended their right to live in freedom on
their ancestral land. Today, Nagorno Karabakh continues to strengthen
its statehood with a democratically elected government, capable armed
forces and an independent foreign policy.
On this anniversary, we reiterate our unwavering support to Nagorno
Karabakh’s freedom, democracy and continued economic development.
Last year, the U.S. Congress appropriated another $3 million in
foreign assistance to Nagorno Karabakh to help you rebuild your land
and restore your lives, devastated by Azerbaijan’s war against your
freedom. We assure you that we will continue to do everything we can
to ensure that your interests are represented in Congress.
As always, we applaud your constructive approach and ongoing
contribution to peace and stability in the region. Our support for
your democracy and your quest to live free, under the government of
your own choosing, remains strong.
Sincerely, Joe Knollberg and Frank Pallone members of Congress