|
Cafesjian Family Foundation Joins The Armenian Assembly
in Support of Artsakh's Representation in the United States
PRESS RELEASE
February 21, 2002
NKR Office Encourages Others to Follow Suit
WASHINGTON, D.C.— The Office of the Nagorno Karabagh
Republic (NKR) in the United States today announced that the Florida-based
Cafesjian Family Foundation would provide funds to support its expanded
activities. The initiative is aimed at strengthening Nagorno Karabagh's
representation in the United States.
American industrialist and benefactor Gerard Cafesjian,
the president and CEO of the Cafesjian Family Foundation (CFF), at this
time is the major sponsor of the future Armenian Genocide Museum and
Memorial in Washington, DC. CFF was also among the first to sponsor
a $100,000 school renovation project in Stepanakert, NKR in 1999. The
sponsorship came in response to NKR President Ghoukasian's call on the
Armenian-American community to help rebuild war-destroyed educational
facilities in Artsakh. CFF is engaged in a number of humanitarian and
development projects currently underway in Armenia and Artsakh.
"As Armenian-Americans we need to stand by Nagorno
Karabagh and one of the ways to do that is to support activities of
its official representation in the United States. After succeeding in
a bitter war imposed by Azerbaijan, Artsakh is now building a true democracy.
We are very excited to see its big and small victories along the road.
I strongly believe in Artsakh's just cause," said Mr. Cafesjian.
NKR Foreign Minister Melkoumian praised Cafesjian
for his commitment and generosity in a letter dated February 7, 2002.
She wrote "I commend you for your strong commitment to Armenian
causes and we will be certain to count on your patriotic support for
Artsakh in the future. Together we shall prevail."
Since its inception in 1997 Artsakh's representation
has relied heavily on the sponsorship of the Armenian-American community.
The Armenian Assembly of America is its strongest supporter, providing
core budget, office space and equipment. The Assembly together with
other Armenian-American organizations has been instrumental in helping
to organize visits of the NKR leaders to the United States.
Minister Melkoumian recently also sent a letter to
the Assembly's Chairman of the Board of Trustees Hirair Hovnanian. She
wrote, "I would like to thank the Armenian Assembly of America
for its continued multifaceted support for Artsakh's official representation
in the United States in 2001- a very important and visionary undertaking
that the Assembly has assumed since 1997."
"The Assembly's able staff in Washington, DC
has been instrumental in sharing with us its rich experience of effective
work in the U.S. capital… I also want to thank everyone at your
good offices in DC," the NKR Foreign Minister said.
More than 60 individual sponsors have responded to
the NKR Office's December 2001 fund drive.
"This is the kind of commitment and support the
NKR Office needs most. The Armenian Assembly and the Cafesjian Family
Foundation truly deserve our appreciation and I thank them for their
leadership. I also thank all individual sponsors for their valuable
input," said NKR Representative in the United States Vardan Barseghian.
In addition to the NKR Office's daily tasks, plans
for this year include working more closely with the U.S. Congress, launching
a new Web site to increase awareness about Artsakh, and encouraging
funding for humanitarian and development projects in Artsakh- a critical
component of long-term success of the country.
"Implementation of Nagorno Karabagh's foreign
policy is an integral part of our struggle for freedom and international
recognition. The NKR Office is in charge of that policy in the United
States and we need greater backing from our American friends to do it
more efficiently," said Representative Barseghian.
The Office of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic in the
United States is based in Washington, DC and works with the U.S. Government,
academia and the public representing official policies and interests
of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic.
|
