20TH ANNIVERSARY OF NAGORNO KARABAKH MOVEMENT MARKED AT CAPITOL HILL PROGRAM

armradio.am
18.09.2008 12:17

Members of Congress joined together on a bipartisan basis on September
17th to mark the 20th anniversary of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
(Artsakh) freedom movement, at a Capitol Hill program headlined by
prominent lawyer and humanitarian Mark Geragos, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America.

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 Karabakh 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 Karabakh’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 Karabakh – praising its commitment to democracy,
peace and stability, and citing it as an example for other countries
in the region.

Congressional Ar menian 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 Karabakh
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 Karabakh, calling the $30 million in
U.S. assistance allocated to date to Nagorno Karabakh 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=2 0Karabakh 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.