Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ANCA CHALLENGES REP. BURTON’S ATTACK ON NAGORNO KARABAGH
— Distributes Fact Sheets Addressing Factual Inaccuracies
and Anti-Democratic Bias in his Speech on House floor
WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
responded today to a July 17th speech on the House floor by Congressman
Dan Burton (R-IN) that seriously misrepresented Nagorno Karabagh’s
history, status, and right to self-determination.
The Indiana legislator took to the House floor yesterday in an
apparent attempt to undermine the growing Congressional support
for Nagorno Karabagh – as demonstrated by the successful recent
Washington, DC visit and U.S. Capitol reception for the Parliamentary
Speaker and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh.
Commenting on what he perceived as a pro-Nagorno Karabagh tilt among
U.S. legislators, Rep. Burton stressed that: "Any outside influence,
any shift in neutrality can only result in a false peace. That is
why I am deeply concerned when I hear some of my colleagues throwing
barbs at the Azeris and attempting to lay all the blame for this
complicated issue at their doorstep."
In a factually incorrect statement, he sought to call into question
Nagorno Karabagh’s right to self-determination, asserting that:
"So far as I know, the Nagorno-Karabakh region has never been a part
of Armenia. To suggest otherwise, and to suggest that the problems
in Nagorno-Karabakh are caused solely by Azerbaijan seems to me to
distort the facts and potentially undermine our good faith efforts
to see this conflict resolved; and to see peace and prosperity come
to the people of both Azerbaijan and Armenia."
In a three-page fact sheet sent to every Congressional office, the
ANCA challenged Congressman Burton’s inaccurate description of the
Nagorno Karabagh issue as well as the biased and counter-productive
advice he offered to his House colleagues. The key points addressed
in the ANCA document included:
1) Nagorno Karabagh’s commitment to peace
2) Azerbaijan’s threat to regional stability
3) Nagorno Karabagh’s economic growth
4) Nagorno Karabagh’s right to self-determination
5) Nagorno Karabagh’s commitment to democracy
6) Nagorno Karabagh’s pivotal role in ending the Soviet
threat to America
In addition, the ANCA provided a one-page update on Azerbaijan’s
post-Soviet evolution into an increasingly corrupt and autocratic
petro-state, characterized by leaders who seek to bridge the growing
gap with their own population by demonizing their Armenian neighbors.
To view a copy of the ANCA fact sheets, visit:
R.pdf
rbaijan.pdf
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