Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
September 30, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, COMMUNITY GROUPS MARK 14TH ANNIVESARY
OF NAGORNO KARABAKH INDEPENDENCE ON CAPITOL HILL
NOTE TO THE EDITOR: Following please find a press release
issued by the Office of Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the USA,
on the Capitol Hill Observance of the 14th anniversary
of Nagorno Karabagh independence.
The event, titled “14 years of Nagorno Karabakh’s Independence:
Progress Toward Freedom, Democracy and Economic Development”
was organized by the Office of Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the
USA, Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA) and Armenian Assembly, in cooperation
with the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.
#####
OFFICE OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC IN THE USA
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 223-4330
Fax: (202) 315-3339
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site:
PRESS RELEASE
September 30, 2005
NAGORNO KARABAKH INDEPENDENCE MARKED ON CAPITOL HILL
Baroness Caroline Cox, Members of Congress, Armenian-American
Community Mark Fourteen Years of Freedom, Democracy and Economic
Development in NKR
WASHINGTON, DC – Members of Congress and leading human rights
activist, British House of Lords Vice-Speaker Baroness Caroline
Cox, joined together on Capitol Hill September 28 to mark the 14th
anniversary of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s (NKR/Artsakh)
independence. Over 100 Armenian-Americans, Congressional staff
members and human rights advocates attended this unprecedented
event, hosted by the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the
USA, the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, the Armenian Assembly
of America (AAA) and the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) in cooperation with the Co-Chairs of the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues.
During the two-hour event entitled “14 years of Nagorno Karabakh’s
Independence: Progress Toward Freedom, Democracy and Economic
Development,” participants highlighted the great strides the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic has made since shaking off foreign
oppression.
“Fourteen years have passed since the day when the people of
Karabakh said a firm NO to continued foreign oppression,” said NKR
Representative to the United States Vardan Barseghian in his
opening remarks.
“Fourteen years of ongoing struggle to survive and prosper against
overwhelming odds. Fourteen years of serious achievements. Fourteen
years of success. Many formally recognized countries would wish to
be able to say this about their recent history, but only a few
can.”
Making the case for international recognition of NKR independence,
Barseghian stressed that the Nagorno Karabakh Republic now meets
all of the traditional, internationally acceptable requirements for
statehood, such as control over a defined territory, a permanent
population, democratically elected government, capable armed
forces, and the capacity to conduct international relations,
including participation in peace negotiations and functioning
representative offices in Moscow, Paris, Washington, DC and
elsewhere.
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-
MI) stressed the progress Nagorno Karabakh has made since declaring
its independence in 1991, and the pivotal role of U.S. humanitarian
assistance in the region. “Progress is the key word here,” stated
Rep. Knollenberg. “The people of NK continue to make progress
despite the challenges they face. I think in the future they will
continue to make progress with the support of the U.S. Congress and
from the United States.” He emphasized that in Karabakh “the
economy is working, the democracy is functioning and they continue
to have successful elections, which are more open and free than
[those in] some countries in the region.” Knollenberg also
commended the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the USA
and its staff for keeping Members of Congress abreast of ongoing
developments in NKR.
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-
NJ) reminded participants that “often times when Karabakh is
mentioned in the media, they forget to mention that it became
independent legally under international law and under Soviet law…
We need to keep stressing that this truly is a democracy that has
an elected president and does so in a very transparent way.” Rep.
Pallone also pledged continued Armenian Caucus support for Nagorno
Karabakh’s democratic aspirations. “We will continue to urge the
Bush Administration, or any other administration, and State
Department that they need to be more supportive to Karabakh,” he
said.
Representative George Radanovich (R-CA) stressed the important role
the Armenian-American community plays in educating Congressional
leaders about the vital concerns in Nagorno Karabakh. “Your
presence here [on the Hill] helps us to better the relationship
between [our] two countries,” explained Rep. Radanovich, as he
congratulated Nagorno Karabakh’s 14 years of independence.
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) concurred, stating “I want to express my
admiration for the Armenian-American community which has been a
wonderful example to the other Americans about how you take
democracy seriously . . . and how you do it for the moral
principle. Thank you for insisting we take this principle of self-
determination, that we so fiercely defend in America, and apply it
elsewhere.” Rep. Frank went on to remark about Azerbaijan’s
continued attempts to deny Nagorno Karabakh freedom. “I don’t
understand . . . and this is directed to the government of
Azerbaijan: Governing when people are willing to be [governed] can
be difficult; I can’t imagine why anyone would want to go through
the aggravation of governing people against their will. It really
just is a dumb thing to do. . . I do not understand why any
government anywhere would want to hold people against their will.”
California Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff noted that he supports
“independence for NKR because it is both consistent with American
values and because it makes practical political sense.” He praised
the growing democracy in the region, stating that “even though they
have been politically and militarily challenged by Azerbaijan and
its powerful ally Turkey, the people of Karabakh have continued to
build all the requisites of statehood.”
The final Congressional speaker of the evening, Rep. Maurice
Hinchey (D-NY), summed up the sentiments of previous speakers,
stating “the people of Nagorno Karabakh have the right to assert
their independence and freedom; they have that right and they
should be provided the opportunity to do so. . . I am very proud to
be with you to assert my unity with you and your enterprise.”
Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Dr. Tatoul Markarian noted, “self-
determination for Nagorno Karabakh is the key to achieving real
freedom and to bringing long-term peace and prosperity in the
region. NK conflict’s distinction from other conflicts in Eurasia
is acknowledged by the international community. We understand that
settlement of the conflict requires serious compromise from all
parties. Meanwhile, I am convinced, and it is widely shared, that
any solution to the conflict will be based on the fact and the
right to self-determination of the people of Nagorno Karabakh,
which the core and the final settlement must take into account.”
World-renowned human rights activist and an outspoken champion of
Karabakh’s right to self-determination, Baroness Caroline Cox gave
the keynote address. Baroness Cox, who recently returned from her
60th trip to the region, provided an eye-witness account of
Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing campaign, pogroms and outright war
against the people of Nagorno Karabakh and spoke passionately about
the incredible progress – both democratic and economic – Karabakh
has made since the 1994 cease-fire accord. Through a powerful slide
presentation, the Baroness gave Members of Congress, staffers and
attendees a first-hand view of reconstruction and rehabilitation
efforts throughout the country.
Lady Cox concluded her remarks by urging the international
community to respect the rights to freedom, justice, and democracy
of the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
“It is high time for the international community to address the
challenges raised by the conflict of the principles of self-
determination and territorial integrity. Surely, there must be some
recognition of the rights of a vulnerable minority, threatened by a
repressive state with attempted ethnic cleansing or genocide, to
have the right to claim their independence in order to survive …
The time for recognition of the rights of the people of Karabakh
for self-determination is NOW for the sake of justice, peace and,
in due course, the economic prosperity and stability for all who
live in the region.”
“If any people in the world today deserve the right to self-
determination and the recognition of independence, it is the people
of Nagorno Karabakh,” said Baroness Cox.
Among speakers at the program were ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian and AAA Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. Hamparian
stressed the significance of NKR achievements and thanked Members
of Congress for their ongoing support of Artsakh’s freedom,
democracy and economic development.
“Today, as Armenians, we thank the U.S. Congress for years of
moral, financial, and political support for Nagorno Karabagh,” said
Hamparian. “In turn, as Americans, we thank the people of Nagorno
Karabagh, first, for their courage and leadership in sparking the
democracy movement that spread to other republics and eventually
helped to end the Soviet threat to the free world, and, second, for
today being on the front lines in the advance of freedom worldwide
– an enduring goal of the American people.”
Ardouny concurred by saying: “We have heard this evening about the
importance of freedom, liberty and democracy fundamental principles
that guide us today just as they did over 200 years ago during the
founding of the U.S. Constitution.”
“Nagorno Karabakh is a geographical fact. It is a political and
moral fact [Karabakhtsis] are the first people of the former Soviet
Union to launch a freedom movement and set out in principle to
institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human
equality as is evidenced today,” said Ardouny, drawing a parallel
with what American statesman Adlai Stevenson once said about the
U.S.
Providing first-hand knowledge of the most recent election held in
Nagorno Karabakh was Dr. Aleyda Kasten, who traveled to NKR last
June as one of six members of the American Independent Monitoring
Delegation. Dr. Kasten, who also observed presidential elections in
the United States and last year’s presidential election in the
Ukraine, testified that over 75% of eligible citizens of Karabakh
turned out to elect the Republic’s Fourth Parliament since
independence. “This was a tightly contested ballot that left no
single party in majority control of the legislature. We, as a
group, did not observe irregularities during voting or vote count.
We were struck by the people’s determination to democratically
decide their future. We can honestly say that from our observations
the elections were carried out freely and transparently,” said
Kasten.
NKR Representative Barseghian closed the event by saying that
“during its 14 years of independence NKR has shown demonstrable
progress toward freedom, democracy and economic development —
values championed by the United States and shared by the people of
Karabakh. As the United States supports and promotes freedom and
democracy for all peoples around the globe, we call on the U.S. to
also continue to support the aspirations of the Karabakh people to
live in freedom, security and prosperity.”
On behalf of the people of Artsakh, Barseghian thanked the
Government of the United States and the American people for their
ongoing aid to rehabilitate Nagorno Karabakh’s war-torn economy and
the shattered lives of its citizens and called on the U.S. to play
a greater role in its conflict mediation efforts by encouraging the
government of Azerbaijan to negotiate directly with the leaders of
Nagorno Karabakh and to respect the will of the people of Karabakh
to live in freedom.
“This event would not have been possible without the strong support
of the two Co-Chairs of the Armenian Caucus, Representatives
Pallone and Knollenberg, Ambassador Markarian, the Armenian
Assembly and the Armenian National Committee,” said Barseghian. He
also thanked Tim Delmonico from Rep. Pallone’s office and Craig
Albright, legislative director for Rep. Knollenberg, for their
invaluable input.
“The Nagorno Karabakh Republic is strong and successful because it
has committed friends like you,” concluded Barseghian.
The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is
based in Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government,
academia and the public representing the official policies and
interests of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
#####
To request photos for publishing with the press release, send an
email to [email protected]
This material is distributed by the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic in the USA on behalf of the Government of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic. The NKR Office is registered with the U.S.
Government under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Additional
information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington,
D.C.