ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF AMERICA
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PRESS RELEASE
September 17, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Email: elizabeth@anca.org

20th ANNIVERSARY OF NAGORNO KARABAGH MOVEMENT
MARKED AT CAPITOL HILL PROGRAM

— Special Guest Mark Geragos Joined by More than Ten Members of
Congress; Community Leadership; Armenia and NKR Diplomatic Corps

— Geragos Challenges Congress to Provide at least $100 Million
to Artsakh

WASHINGTON, DC – Members of Congress joined together on a
bipartisan basis this evening to mark the 20th anniversary of the
Nagorno Karabagh Republic (Artsakh) freedom movement, at a Capitol
Hill program headlined by prominent lawyer and humanitarian Mark
Geragos, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).

The evening, titled "Nagorno Karabakh Republic/Artsakh: 20 Years of
Freedom, Democracy and Progress," was hosted by the Congressional
Caucus of Armenian Issues in cooperation with the Embassy of the
Republic of Armenia, the Nagorno Karabagh Representation in the
U.S., and Armenian American organizations.

"As a community deeply devoted to Artsakh’s security, we are
pleased to be joined by our Congressional friends at today’s
Capitol Hill celebration of Nagorno Karabagh’s hard-won freedom,"
said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We take from this
event an added measure of devotion to standing up against
Azerbaijani and Caspian energy interests, increasing developmental
aid to Nagorno Karabagh, zeroing-out military aid to Azerbaijan,
and breaking down the artificial barriers to U.S.-Artsakh
dialogue."

Throughout the evening, Members of Congress offered remarks
congratulating Nagorno Karabagh — praising its commitment to
democracy, peace and stability, and citing it as an example for
other countries in the region. Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-
Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), who served
as Masters of Ceremony for the evening, offered moving remarks
along with Reps. Shelly Berkley (D-NV), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Jim
Costa (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), George
Radanovich (R-CA), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Brad Sherman (D-CA), and
Tim Walz (D-MN).

The event invocation was offered by His Eminence Archbishop Vicken
Aykazian, legate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
the Eastern U.S., while a special presentation on the Nagorno
Karabagh liberation movement was made by His Eminence Archbishop
Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Eastern U.S.
In recognition of Congressional support for Artsakh, the
Congressional Caucus Co-Chairs were given a special book of letters
and drawing prepared by the children of Artsakh, presented by Ms.
Nelly Martirosyan, who had recently spent over two months working
with youth there.

In his keynote address, Geragos challenged Members of Congress to
increase their support for Nagorno Karabagh, calling the $30
million in U.S. assistance allocated to date to Nagorno Karabagh
insufficient, and asserting that this aid package, to a democratic
nation in a troubled region, should be at least at the $100 million
level.

Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Tatoul Markarian and NKR
Representative in the U.S. Vardan Barseghian provided insight on
the current peace talks over Nagorno Karabagh and the ongoing
commitment of both countries to a peaceful resolution of the
conflict. A special video marking the 20th anniversary of the
Artsakh movement, prepared by film-maker and documentary producer
Peter Musurlian, highlighted the economic progress and
strengthening of democracy in the Republic. The evening concluded
with moving remarks by human rights activist Kathryn Porter, a
frequent visitor to Artsakh who has shared trying and triumphant
moments with the women of Artsakh during and after the conflict in
the region.

Photos and video coverage of Congressional remarks from the event
will be posted on the ANCA website () and YouTube
channel –

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Note to the Editor: Photos Available Upon request. Please email:
elizabeth@anca.org