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Congressional Reception
PRESS RELEASE
June 13, 2002
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NKR Foreign Minister Honored at Congressional Reception
Minister Melkoumian Briefs U.S. Legislators; Underscores Importance
of Continuing U.S. Humanitarian Assistance to Nagorno Karabakh WASHINGTON-
Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) Foreign Minister Naira Melkoumian personally
thanked Members of Congress for their steadfast support for the people
of Nagorno Karabakh, during a Congressional reception Wednesday co-hosted
by congressional Armenian Caucus Co-chairs Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and
Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and co-sponsored by the Armenian National Committee
of America and the Armenian Assembly of America. Several Congressmen,
including Reps. David Bonior (D-MI), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Connie
Morella (R-MD), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Hilda Solis (D-CA), Joe Wilson (R-SC)
and congressional staff members joined Representative Pallone and Representative
Knollenberg in welcoming the foreign minister. Ambassador Arman Kirakossian
represented the government of Armenia. The reception followed a series
of high-level meetings on Capitol Hill and with the Administration in
which Melkoumian emphasized the necessity for continued U.S. assistance
to the people of Nagorno Karabakh and early implementation of confidence
building measures (CBM) between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan. Addressing
the reception quests, Foreign Minister Melkoumian thanked the many congressional
friends of Nagorno Karabakh for their steadfast support and ongoing
U.S. assistance. Minister Melkoumian also stressed the important role
the Armenian American community plays in educating U.S.officials about
Nagorno Karabakh and in ensuring that the search for a peaceful resolution
to the Karabakh conflict remains a priority on the congressional agenda.
"Resolution of this conflict is critical to peace, stability,
democracy and economic development in the South Caucasus. NKR looks
forward to continued cooperation with our U.S. colleagues towards achieving
this shared vision," said Minister Melkoumian.
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Representative Knollenberg, who introduced the Foreign
Minister, described the ongoing U.S. direct humanitarian aid to Nagorno
Karabakh, noting that Congress is monitoring the $20 million assistance
program very closely. Representative Knollenberg, who serves on the
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, stressed that
he will work to ensure that U.S. assistance to Nagorno Karabakh continues
in the FY2003 aid cycle. Representative Morella, who led a congressional
delegation to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh in 1999, assured the Foreign
Minister of U.S. congressional support and commitment. More recently,
Representative Morella joined Representative Pallone in spearheading
a Congressional letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign
Operations urging continued U.S. assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh
and stepped up efforts to find an equitable resolution to the Karabakh
conflict. Representative Morella praised the Armenian American community
for their civic activism, commenting that, "we have the best [Armenian]
Diaspora here in the U.S." She promised the Foreign Minister, "We
will be by your side." Longtime Congressional supporter David Bonior
(D-MI) welcomed the Foreign Minister and said he hoped that Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan can "build upon what happened in Key West"
and eventually finish the job in an effort to bring stability to the
Caucasus region. Representative Bonior, who is currently campaigning
to become the Governor of Michigan, pledged to support a cultural and
economic exchange between Michigan and Karabakh. Freshman Congressman
Joe Wilson (R-SC), who successfully led the effort in the South Carolina
legislature to adopt an Armenian Genocide resolution in 1999, reiterated
his staunch support for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. "I look forward
to visiting Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh one day", said Representative
Wilson.
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Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-chair Frank Pallone,
who has visited Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh four times during the past
decade, closed the program by praising Nagorno Karabakh's commitment
to democracy and a market-oriented economy. He commended the ongoing
work by non-government organizations to effectively utilize U.S. assistance
in meetingNKR's humanitarian needs. The people of Nagorno Karabakh are
"genuinely excited by the democratic process and we needto encourage
such developments," said Representative Pallone. "I would
like to thank the Armenian National Committee and the Armenian Assembly
of America for sponsoring this event. We will continue working together
to strengthen U.S.-NKR relationship. In that regard we are eager to
achieve U.S. and international recognition of Nagorno Karabakh's independence,"
said NKR Representative in the United States Vardan Barseghian.
Foreign Minister Melkoumian is in Washington, DC for
a week-long series of meetings with the Administration, Congress, think
tanks, media and the Armenian American community.
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