REP. SCHIFF, ARTSAKH FM DISCUSS U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN NKR DEVELOPMENT
December 6, 2012 – 14:25 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) met with Karen Mirzoyan,
the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic,
in his Washington, DC office. During the meeting, Schiff and Minister
Mirzoyan discussed recent developments in the South Caucasus, and the
importance of continued U.S. involvement in the development of Nagorno
Karabakh. As a Member of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee,
Schiff has pushed for increased humanitarian and development assistance
to Nagorno Karabakh, and Mirzoyan thanked the Congressman for his
work on this vital issue.
“It was wonderful to meet Foreign Minister Mirzoyan, and hear his
perspective on the economic and security issues in Artsakh,” said Rep.
Schiff. “I updated the minister on the status of my efforts to get
economic assistance boosted from $2 million to $5 million in the
2013 budget that will be finalized in the coming weeks. And we also
discussed the appalling extradition and release of Ramil Safarov,
and its effect on a peaceful resolution of conflict in the region.”
Yesterday, Rep. Schiff sent a letter to the Chairmen and Ranking
Members of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittees in the
House and Senate – calling on them to cut all security assistance to
Azerbaijan, including Azerbaijan’s International Military Education
and Training Account (IMET) funding. This latest request comes
after the egregious repatriation and release of Ramil Safarov, an
Azerbaijani army captain who had confessed to the savage 2004 axe
murder of Armenian army lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan during a NATO
Partnership for Peace Program.
In the letter, Schiff wrote: “Azerbaijan has committed the most
terrible subversion of justice – making a hero of a cold-blooded
killer. Plainly the investment we have made in training Azeri forces
has been worse than wasted. The United States must not tolerate any
acts of aggression against Armenia or Nagorno Karabakh, and this
hateful action by President Aliyev undermines all international
efforts to bring about a peaceful solution in the region.
“Azerbaijan must pay a high price for its actions. Baku treasures
the security assistance that it receives from Washington, not because
it needs the money (it does not), but because it signifies a certain
closeness in the bilateral relationship. By cutting off military aid to
Azerbaijan, the United States would signal its disgust with the Safarov
affair, while also reminding Aliyev that the United States will not
tolerate any acts of aggression against Armenia or Nagorno Karabakh.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Emil Lazarian. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.
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