CHAIRMAN ROYCE DISCUSSES ARTSAKH PEACE AND SECURITY WITH REPUBLIC OF NAGORNO KARABAKH PRESIDENT BAKO SAHAKYAN

April 25, 2014

YEREVAN, ARMENIA – House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) explored ways to strengthen ongoing U.S. efforts to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the Karabakh issue during a meeting with Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) President Bako Sahakyan earlier today, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

“We were pleased that U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce held constructive talks with President Sahakyan of the independent Nagorno Karabakh Republic regarding U.S. leadership, within the OSCE Minsk Group, in helping to facilitate a peaceful resolution of issues related to Artsakh’s international status and long-term security,” said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. “It always holds special meaning for Americans of Armenian heritage to reinforce the bonds of friendship between the people of America and Artsakh – based on our commonly-held values, commitment to peace, and shared democratic aspirations.”

Sahakyan was joined by NKR Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan and the Permanent Representative of NKR to Armenia in discussing the ongoing peace negotiations mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group and urged the strengthening of the U.S.-Artsakh bond.

Participating in the discussion was a delegation of ANCA leaders who had traveled to Yerevan earlier in the week to welcome Chairman Royce and his Congressional colleagues to Armenia. The ANCA delegation included Hachikian, ANCA National Board member Raffi Hamparian and Steve Mesrobian, ANCA Western Region Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian, longtime Orange County area community leader Sylvie Tertzakian and ANCA Legislative Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian. Mesrobian and Karakashian also serve on the ANCA Eastern Region Board, which Mesrobian chairs.

Pictures from the Congressional delegation’s visit are posted to the ANCA Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152166515631859.1073741870.16968936858&type=3

Complete coverage of the Congressional delegation’s visit to Armenia will be provided in upcoming days.

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For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Email / Tel: (202) 775-1918 / (703) 585-8254 cell
Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918 * Fax. (202) 775-5648 * Email.anca@anca.org