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Congressional Reception PRESS RELEASE 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. 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. 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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