NKR PRESIDENT GHUKASSIAN’S MEETINGS IN THE UNITED STATES
Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
Nov 21 2006
NKR President Arkady Ghukassian is visiting the United States on these
days for the annual telethon in Los Angeles, which will take place
on November 23. In New York, the NKR president met with the head of
Eurasia Group Jan Bremer, Edil Hovnanian and Van Grigorian, members
of the board of the Armenian Assembly of America. During the meeting,
the president told about the prospects of settlement of the conflict,
as well as state building, enhancement of defense, economic reforms and
democracy in NKR. Arkady Ghukassian thanked the AAA for the lobbing
of Nagorno Karabakh’s interests at the U.S. Congress. In Detroit,
the president met with Rep. Joe Knollenberg. Arkady Ghukassian
congratulated him on his reelection to the House, and thanked for
his support in upholding the interests of Nagorno Karabakh. For his
part, Mr. Knollenberg, who is the head of the Armenian Caucus of
the U.S. Congress, states his willingness to continue to deal with
the problems of Karabakh. The president also met with the Armenian
community in Detroit. In Boston Arkady Ghukassian met with Caroline
Mughar, the president of the board of the Armenian Assembly of
America. "The foreign policy of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is aimed
at the peace settlement of the conflict with Azerbaijan," he stated
at the Los Angeles Council for International Affairs. The loyalty of
NKR to a peace settlement is not a sign of weakness, and it does not
mean that the people of Karabakh cannot defend themselves in case a
war ignites, he said.
"The conceptual approach of Karabakh to the relations with Azerbaijan
is based on the perception that presently new standards and rules of
international relations are forming in the world, which if observed,
will grant the publics and nations equal rights to defend their
national interests," Arkady Ghukassian said. He said regarding the
resolution of the conflict that a settlement which would endanger
the security of NKR, let alone the independence from Azerbaijan is
unacceptable for Karabakh. The NKR president called the mediators,
including the United States, to work out a separate memorandum
rejecting resumption of the war and emphasizing the necessity to settle
the problems in negotiations and offer it to the conflict parties
to sign. In his address Arkady Ghukassian presented the reforms in
different spheres of life in NKR and building of a civil society in
NKR. At the same time, he emphasized the importance of adoption of the
NKR Constitution and informed that it will be put to popular voting on
December 10, 2006. According to the president, the NKR Constitution
will reflect the desires and determination of the people on state
building in Nagorno Karabakh. In Los Angeles Arkady Ghukassian also met
with Armenian benefactors Vahe Karapetian, Isahak Vardanian, Gevorg
Voskanian, Mark Kirakos, member of the board of trustees of Armenia
Foundation. The president also met with the primate of the Eastern
Diocese of the United States Archbishop Hovnan Terterian, reports
the department of information of the NKR president administration.