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Congressmen Kennedy, Nunes and Pallone Congratulate
NKR
on the Liberation Movement's 15th Anniversary
PRESS RELEASE
March 17, 2003
Washington, DC - U.S. Congressmen Patrick Kennedy
(D-RI), Devin Nunes (R-CA) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) have submitted
statements to the congressional record congratulating the people of
Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) on the 15th anniversary of the Karabakh
Liberation Movement. In their statements the
congressmen expressed their support for Nagorno Karabakh's independence
and its commitment to democracy and stability in the South Caucasus.
"I congratulate the people of NKR for the 15th
anniversary of the Nagorno Karabakh Liberation Movement and their incredible
determination to establish a free and open democratic society,"
Pallone said. Echoing his remarks Kennedy's statement said: "Despite
years of ethnic cleansing, forced economic discrimination and state-sponsored
violence and intimidation, residents of Nagorno Karabakh ... never strayed
in their struggle for independence.... I hope that this Congress will
continue to assist them in the continued development of their democracy,
which serves as a beacon of hope to oppressed people seeking democracy
around the globe." "[Nagorno Karabakh] strongly contribute[s]
to peace and stability in the South Caucasus region - a goal the United
States shares with them," said Nunes in his statement before the
U.S. House of Representatives.
February 20, 1988 marked the beginning of the latest
stage of the Nagorno Karabakh Liberation Movement that began immediately
after Joseph Stalin's infamous decision to place this historic Armenian
province within
the borders of Soviet Azerbaijan. On that day the Nagorno Karabakh legislature
officially petitioned the Soviet government for reunification with Armenia.
Tens of thousands demonstrated over the course of several weeks in Nagorno
Karabakh in support of that decision, signalling their desire to live
in freedom. In subsequent years, Nagorno Karabakh withstood Azerbaijani
military aggression that attempted to crush the independence movement.
Last February, the two Co-Chairs of the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues Congressmen Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank
Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) publicly congratulated the people of Nagorno Karabakh
on the 15th Anniversary of the Karabakh Freedom Movement. In their letter
to the NKR people the Congressmen said, "February 20, 1988 marked
the beginning of [your] determined effort to shake off Azerbaijan's
oppressive rule and shape [your] own destiny. The same commitment to
liberty lay at the foundation of the American nation."
Today, the Chairman of the NKR National Assembly Oleg
Yessayan wrote to the Congressmen thanking them for their congratulations.
It said, in part, "Your thoughtful and kind remarks are much appreciated
as we celebrate the spirit of freedom and revival. Through enormous
hardship and perseverance, we have affirmed our unwavering determination
to be our own masters once and for all. We are particularly proud and
thankful to have had the continued support of the United States from
the early years of the Liberation Movement and for the current assistance
for post-conflict rehabilitation. We are committed to preserving our
freedom, strengthening our young democracy, and building friendly relations
with the international community."
Joining Chairman Yessayan, the NKR Representative
in the United States Vardan Barseghian added: "I thank our friends,
U.S. Congressmen Patrick Kennedy, Joe Knollenberg, Devin Nunes, and
Frank Pallone for their leadership in promoting values shared by the
people of the United States and Nagorno Karabakh and in building bridges
between our countries."
The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the
United States is based in Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government,
academia and the public representing the official policies and interests
of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
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