OFFICE OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC IN THE USA
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 223-4330
Fax: (202) 315-3339
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site:
PRESS RELEASE
October 3, 2005
FIFTY-NINE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS URGE PRESIDENT BUSH TO SUPPORT NKR
ASPIRATION TO LIVE IN FREEDOM
On the occasion of the 14th anniversary of Nagorno Karabakh’s
independence, over fifty Members of Congress joined with the
Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Frank
Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), in sending a letter
to President Bush, calling attention to `the important progress
being made by the people of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh,
towards freedom, peace and prosperity.’
The September 28 letter outlined the difficult road taken by the
Artsakh people to secure their freedom and to build a democratic and
economically viable country. It went on to cite the parallels in
the U.S. and Nagorno Karabakh commitment to freedom and democracy.
The congressional letter said, in part: `A de-facto independent
state, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is a country of proud citizens
committed to the values of freedom, democracy and respect for human
rights. We, as Americans cherish and defend these same values at
home and internationally. . . Above all, the Unites States should
unequivocally support the right of the people of Nagorno Karabakh to
decide their own future.’ The full text of the letter is provided
at the end of the release.
`We thank our congressional friends for defending the values of
freedom, democracy and prosperity,’ said NKR Representative in the
United States Vardan Barseghian. `These universal values are dear to
the people of Artsakh as we continue building a rule-of-law,
democratic country, contributing meaningfully to peace and stability
in the strategic South Caucasus region.’
`We call on the United States and other nations to recognize the
independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, thereby affirming the
right of the people of Artsakh to live in freedom without fear of
violence, oppression, and persecution,’ stressed Barseghian.
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.
* * *
(The following is the full text of the congressional letter sent to
President George W. Bush on September 28, 2005)
September 28, 2005
The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We write to draw your attention to the important progress being made
by the people of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh, towards
freedom, peace and prosperity. The United States has played a
critical role in Nagorno Karabakh’s progress, offering crucial moral
support for the Nagorno Karabakh democracy movement, providing
desperately needed humanitarian assistance, and working for peace
within the OSCE Minsk Group. As we champion freedom for all peoples
around the world, we should also continue supporting the aspirations
of people of Artsakh to live in freedom, particularly in the
strategically important South Caucasus.
The path to freedom has not been easy for the people of Nagorno
Karabakh. Following a peaceful demand by Karabakh’s legislative
body to reunite the region with Armenia in 1988, Azerbaijan launched
an ethnic cleansing campaign against individuals of Armenian decent.
As a result, thousands of ethnic Armenians were killed, while some
400,000 fled Azerbaijan to escape killings. On September 2, 1991,
the people of Nagorno Karabakh, consistent with the laws in force at
the time, declared their independence. The Declaration of
Independence noted Azerbaijan’s policies of discrimination against
the Armenian people, the resultant need to restore friendly
relations between Armenian and Azerbaijani people and respect for
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In response, Azerbaijan
launched an all-out war against the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, which
killed thousands, destroyed Nagorno Karabakh’s economy and forced
some 450,000 Azeries to flee from territories around Nagorno
Karabakh. The consequences of a devastating war and an ongoing
Azerbaijani blockade have all failed to break Nagorno Karabakh
people’s determination to live in freedom.
Since their independence, the people of Nagorno Karabakh have
steadily progressed on the path of democracy and conducted regular
elections, which were praised by international observers as free,
fair and transparent. While strengthening its democratic
institutions, Nagorno Karabakh has also successfully transitioned
from a Soviet-inherited centrally-planned economy to a market
economy. Despite significant setbacks, Nagorno Karabakh has largely
restored its infrastructure and introduced reforms to encourage
private enterprise and foreign investments.
The United States is proud to support a nation whose citizens are
eager to enjoy democratic rights and freedoms, develop their
economy, and create a better future. The U.S. direct humanitarian
assistance to Nagorno Karabakh has contributed significantly to
rebuilding Karabakh’s war-torn economy. Yet, more needs to be done.
Humanitarian assistance to Nagorno Karabakh should be continued and
also expanded to include a development component to meet the
challenges of Karabakh’s fledging market economy.
With its democratically elected government, capable armed forces and
an independent foreign policy, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic clearly
satisfies the international criteria for statehood. Throughout its
14-year history of independence, Nagorno Karabakh has proven to be a
reliable partner of the international community. Nagorno Karabakh
has contributed meaningfully to peace and stability in the strategic
South Caucasus, a goal the United States shares.
A de facto independent state, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is a
country of proud citizens committed to the values of freedom,
democracy and respect for human rights. We, as Americans, cherish
and defend these same values at home and internationally. We stood
with Nagorno Karabakh when its people challenged the legacy of the
Soviet totalitarianism, contributing to the democratization of the
former Soviet Union and to the end of the Cold War. This policy
should continue through expanded dialogue with the democratically
elected leadership of Nagorno Karabakh and an increased U.S.
humanitarian and development assistance. And above all, the United
States should unequivocally support the right of the people of
Nagorno Karabakh’s to decide their own future.
Thank you for your consideration of our concerns.
Sincerely,
[signed]
Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Howard Berman (D-CA),
Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Michael Capuano
(D-MA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Ben Chandler (D-KY), Jim Costa
(D-CA), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Anna Eshoo
(D-CA), Bob Filner (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Scott Garrett
(R-NJ), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Rush Holt
(D-NJ), Michael Honda (D-CA), Steve Israel (D-NY), Jesse Jackson
(D-IL), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI), Mark Kirk
(R-IL), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Sander Levin (D-MI), Nita Lowey (D-NY),
Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn Maloney
(D-NY), Edward Markey (D-MA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Thaddeus McCotter
(R-MI), James McGovern (D-MA), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Martin Meehan
(D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Candice Miller (R-MI), Grace
Napolitano (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Frank Pallone, Jr.
(D-NJ), Donald Payne (D-NJ), George Radanovich (R-CA), Mike Rogers
(R-MI), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Bobby
Rush (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Joe Schwarz (R-MI), E. Clay Shaw
(R-FL), Christopher Shays (R-CT), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Hilda Solis
(D-CA), Mark Souder (R-IN), Ted Strickland (D-OH), Christopher Van
Hollen (D-MD), Peter Visclosky (D-IN), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), and
Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).
* * *
NOTE: A PDF version of the letter is available upon request.
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.