ARMENIAN
ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:

Contact: Danielle
Saroyan

Telephone:
(202) 393-3434

Web: www.aaainc.org

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY CO-CHAIR
ACCOMPANIES REPRESENTATIVES FRANK PALLONE, JR. AND TULSI GABBARD TO ARTSAKH

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly)
Board of Trustees Co-Chairman Anthony Barsamian joined Armenian Caucus Co-Chair
Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) on a
working visit to Artsakh today. The delegation included Artsakh Foreign
Minister Karen Mirzoyan, Artsakh Representative to the U.S. Robert Avetisyan,
and All-Armenia Fund President Maria Mehranian. Reps. Pallone and Gabbard are
in Armenia as part of a Congressional Delegation with Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs
Reps. David Valadao (R-CA) and Jackie Speier (D-CA), Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner
(R-WI), and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA).

"This
trip to Artsakh is instrumental in helping U.S. Members of Congress better
understand the current political and economic situation in Artsakh. By seeing
the destruction caused by Azerbaijan and meeting with high-level officials to
discuss U.S.-Armenia and U.S.-Artsakh relations in depth, Reps. Pallone and
Gabbard can better convey the pressing need for U.S. humanitarian aid and
better understand the security threats to the people of Artsakh caused by the
Azeris. They also saw the need for a peaceful resolution, which includes
Artsakh in the negotiations," Assembly Co-Chair Barsamian said.

The previous day, Armenian Assembly Co-Chair Barsamian, Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny, and Regional Director Arpi Vartanian met with Artsakh President
Bako Sahakyan and Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan. During the meeting, they
discussed the importance of U.S. assistance, especially for de-mining in
Artsakh which is carried out by The HALO Trust, as well as the peace process.
President Sahakyan emphasized the Assembly's important role in U.S.-Artsakh
relations, and acknowledged the organization's "patriotic and highly
professional activity."

Rep. Valadao
also traveled to Artsakh earlier this week, where he met with The HALO Trust to
learn more about mine clearance along the borders. Following the visit, he
stated, "Families in Nagorno Karabakh live under the constant threat of
landmine accidents and I am grateful for the efforts of The HALO Trust to make
Nagorno Karabakh a more safe and secure region." Rep. Valadao continued,
"While their work is renown worldwide, I appreciated witnessing their work
and learning more about their efforts and dedication firsthand."

Earlier this
month, Rep. Valadao spearheaded a bipartisan amendment along with House Foreign
Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), House Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence and Armenian Caucus Vice-Chair Adam Schiff (D-CA),
Rep. Pallone, and Rep. Speier to ensure continued funding for de-mining
projects in Artsakh.

U.S. Members
of Congress have continued to travel to Artsakh throughout the years. Rep.
Pallone visited Artsakh for the first time twenty years ago as part of an
Armenian Assembly of America-sponsored delegation. During an historic address
before the Parliament of Nagorno Karabakh on January 28, 1997, Rep. Pallone
stated, "I hope that my visit to Karabagh, and especially my presence in
your legislative body today, will contribute in some small way to a growing
international recognition that the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh is a
reality." Rep. Pallone has returned to Artsakh a few times since his
initial visit, where he observed local elections and learned more about mine
clearance.

Established
in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

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NR#: 2017-065

Photo
Caption 1: Armenian Assembly Co-Chair Anthony Barsamian, Rep. Frank Pallone,
Jr. (D-NJ), Artsakh National Assembly Chairman Ashot Ghoulian, and Rep. Tulsi
Gabbard (D-HI) in front of "We Are Our Mountains" monument north of
Stepanakert, Artsakh

Photo
Caption 2: (left) Rep.
Frank Pallone, Jr. and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard heading to Stepanakert with Artsakh
Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan, Armenian Assembly Co-Chair Anthony Barsamian,
and All-Armenia Fund President Maria Mehranian; (right) Rep. Pallone,
Barsamian, and Rep. Gabbard with servicemen

Photo
Caption 3: Armenian Assembly Regional Director Arpi Vartanian, Co-Chair Anthony
Barsamian, and Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, with Artsakh Foreign Minister
Karen Mirzoyan, President Bako Sahakyan, Presidential Spokesman David Babayan,
and Representative to Armenia Karlen Avetisyan

Photo
Caption 4: Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) observing mine clearance with The Halo
Trust in Artsakh

Photo
Caption 5: Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. addressing a special session of the Nagorno
Karabakh Parliament in 1997

Available
online at: http://bit.ly/2yqeorG