PRESS RELEASE: RHODE ISLAND CELEBRATES LIBERATION OF SHUSHI
Community and Dignitaries Join the Celebrations
For Immediate Release ~ May 22, 2012
Contact: Press Service of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic's Office in the USA
OFFICE OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC IN THE USA
1334 G St. N.W., Washington, DC 20005
Tel: (202) 223-4330
Fax: (202) 223-4332
E-mail: info@nkrusa.org
Web site: www.nkrusa.org
Providence, RI - On May 20, 2012, The Armenian Community of the State of Rhode Island organized a special reception to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the liberation of Shushi. Open-air reception and a concert were organized by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s Eastern U.S. Central Committee, the Armenian Cultural Association of Rhode Island and the Saints Vartanantz Armenian Church of Providence. US Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI), Mayors of Providence, Warwick and Cranston also attended the celebrations, and offered their remarks to congratulate the people of Artsakh with the Triple Holiday.
“We will support Karabakh economically, legislatively, and diplomatically to ensure that it prospers”, said Dikran Kaligian, member of the ARF Eastern Region’s Central Committee.
Addressing the gathering, Representative of Artsakh Robert Avetisyan talked about the importance of the 1992 victory, and expressed hope for future significant achievements. Avetisyan thanked the vibrant Armenian community of Rhode Island for their continued involvement and support of Artsakh’s aspirations to continue developing as a free and sovereign country.
On May 17, Rhode Island’s House of Representatives adopted a resolution supporting independence of Artsakh, and calling upon the U.S. government to recognize the sovereign NKR.
During the Artsakh Liberation War, on May 8-9, 1992 Artsakh self-defense forces launched a military operation intended to lift the siege of Stepanakert and end Azerbaijani bombardments of Karabakh’s capital. Shushi, a historically Armenian town by then cleared of all its Armenian population, became Azerbaijan’s military stronghold. After twenty-four hours of heavy fighting, Artsakh forces liberated the town, and moved further to break the blockade and open a corridor to Armenia. The corridor, which became known as "Road of Life,” allowed for key supplies to enter Artsakh and make its long-term defense possible.
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* * * 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.
This material is distributed by the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the USA on behalf of the Government of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The NKR Office is registered with the U.S. Government under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. << Back to Press Releases Page
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