KARABAKH CELEBRATES LIBERATION MOVEMENT ANNIVERSARY
KarabakhOpen
21-02-2008 12:17:28
Washington, DC – Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Nagorno
Karabakh Liberation Movement. On February 20, 1988, reflecting the
expressed will of electorate, Karabakh’s local legislature petitioned
legislative bodies of Azerbaijan and Armenia to peacefully transfer
the region from Soviet Azerbaijan to Soviet Armenia, aiming to correct
Stalin’s wrong decision of 1921.
"February 1988 is a turning point, which separated our past from our
present and marked the beginning to our future," stated NKR Parliament
Speaker Ashot Ghulian at a special meeting today.
"Celebrating this day as a national holiday, we reiterate adherence
to our vision, to the principles of freedom and democracy. Today
we confirm our commitment to continue on this path until the final
victory," he said.
Karabakh’s aspirations were fiercely opposed by the central Soviet
authorities, which tried to suppress the first truly democratic
movement on its territory. Moscow deployed Soviet troops along with
Azerbaijani militia to instill fear and to crackdown.
State-supported Azeri mobs attacked and killed hundreds of ethnic
Armenians in towns and villages throughout Azerbaijan, including in
Baku, Sumgait and Kirovabad (Ganje).
As the Soviet Union collapsed, the newly-independent Azerbaijan
intensified its brutal attacks. In addition to pogroms, Azerbaijan
launched a full-scale military aggression against the people of
Karabakh, attacking towns and villages, killing thousands, dislocating
many more and destroying vital infrastructure of the region.
Karabakh appealed to the world community to help stop the Azerbaijani
aggression. While various institutions, including U.S. Congress,
offered protests, no international intervention followed to stop the
attempted genocide.
Left one-on-one with a fierce enemy that was seeking physical
annihilation of the entire Armenian population, the population of
Karabakh exhibited outstanding bravery and devotion to withstand the
attacks, prevail in the war and pressure Azerbaijan into a ceasefire,
which has held since 1994.
The people of Karabakh then proceeded to rebuild their lives and
their country, establishing a firm foundation for continued security
and economic development.
Today, Karabakh’s friends around the world expressed their continued
solidarity with the Republic. On behalf of the 159 members of the US
Congress’ Armenian Caucus, Co-chairs Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank
Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) sent a letter to the NKR President Bako Sahakian.
"We write to offer our congratulations as Nagorno Karabakh marks
the 20th anniversary of the democracy movement that gave birth to
the hard won freedom that the people and government of your proud
Republic enjoy to this day," the letter said.
"The United States stood with the people of Nagorno Karabakh as
they strived to free themselves from the Soviet empire of enslaved
nations. We were united during those years, as we are today, by the
powerful idea that free citizens deserve to live under a government
of their own choosing, not one imposed upon them by a foreign power."
The NKR Permanent Representative to the United States Vardan
Barseghian thanked congressional friends of Artsakh for their steadfast
support. "We look forward to our continued cooperation to solidify
Karabakh’s achievements," said Barseghian.
The Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh, today is a viable state with
democratically elected government, rule of law, fledging civil society,
and a booming market economy.
As a factor contributing to the balance of power in South Caucasus,
Artsakh plays an important role in ensuring regional stability.
Through an independent foreign policy, Artsakh continues to engage
constructively with the international community to advance shared
goals of peace, democracy and economic development.
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, Artsakh.
* * * 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.
OFFICE OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC IN THE USA 1140 19th Street,
NW, Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20036 Tel: (202) 223-4330 Fax: (202)
315-3339 E-mail: [email protected] Web site:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
