Issue Position: Celebrating Armenian Independence

Issue Position

This fall, I had the pleasure of attending several important events withpolitical leaders visiting the United States from Armenia and Artsakh. On September 25, 2011, I celebrated Armenian Independence Day
with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Armenian-Americans from all across California. Upon meeting President Sargsyan, I presented him with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol. Additionally, on September 13, 2011, I joined Nagorno Karabakh Republic (Artsakh) Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghulian and Parliament Member Zoya Lazaryan at a Capitol Hill commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic's independence. I spoke on increasing U.S. aid for Artsakh and the economic and democratic achievements of the Republic -- despite living in a state of coercion imposed by Azerbaijan -- since its Independence. On Capitol Hill, I celebrated Armenia's independence at an event, "Republic of Armenia: 20 Years of Independent Statehood, Freedom, Democracy and Progress" along with other Congressional friends of Armenia. I spoke on Armenia's achievements the past two decades and the continued need to strengthen relations between the U.S. and Armenia

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