PALLONE MEETS WITH NAGORNO KARABAKH PRESIDENT TO DISCUSS THE SOUTH CAUCASUS REGION
AZG Armenian Daily
26/11/2008
Nagorno Karabakh
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), co-chair
of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, issued the following
statement regarding his meeting with Nagorno Karabakh President
Bako Sahakyan on Saturday in New York City. President Sahakyan was
accompanied by Artsakh’s Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Pargev
Martirosian and NKR Finance Minister Spartak Tevosyan.
"I was pleased to meet with President Sahakyan this weekend to
discuss achieving an atmosphere of peace between Nagorno Karabakh and
Azerbaijan. The November 2nd peace agreement signed in Russia was
a promising first step, but Azerbaijan must cease violations along
the line of contact if real peace is to be achieved. I am hopeful
that the goal of peaceful relations between Nagorno Karabakh and
Azerbaijan can be attained.
"With President-elect Obama preparing to take office next month,
the United States must play a more active role in peace negotiations
through the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Minsk Group. Our robust involvement is essential for all parties to
commit to peace.
"It is necessary that the United States place an importance on the
existence of the smaller states in the Caucasus. The conflicts over
South Ossetia and Abkhazia are examples of a failed Stalinist approach
to carving up the Caucasus. The United States must not ignore the
unique cultural identities of the people of Nagorno Karabakh. As a
country founded on self-determination, we must champion the rights
of people everywhere to self-determination.
"In addition, I will also urge a shift in U.S. aid to Nagorno-Karabakh
from humanitarian to developmental programs in the Fiscal Year
2009 appropriations package. I believe this shift from humanitarian
to economic funding would greatly help rebuild Nagorno Karabakh’s
infrastructure. The assistance would also help secure the health and
safety of the people of Nagorno Karabakh."