Artak Beglaryan State Minister of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) is the first Artsakh official to visit California after the 44-day war. The visit is at the invitation of the Armenian Missionary Association of America, full of meetings with community structures, American figures and various circles of the Armenian society. At the heart of the meetings is the aftermath of the war and the issue of their elimination.
“The only irreversible loss due to the war is lives, everything else can be reversible, and be the basis for our further strengthening transformation,” says Artak Beglaryan, Artsakh State Minister.
At the community meeting organized in the Armenian Union of Iran, Artak Beglaryan presented the state of Artsakh today, the short-term and long-term plans of the Artsakh Government.
“Now Artsakh is in a better condition than even I expected. There is a serious success in terms of demographics, one hundred and twenty thousand Armenians live in Artsakh today, while we did not expect this number. This means that the people of Artsakh are strong on their land and cling to it and say that we will live here, despite all the challenges,” Beglaryan says.
The Artsakh State Minister presented to the American-Armenian community the five pillars on which, in his opinion, the future of Artsakh should be built: stable security, growing demography, developing economy, education of high quality, effective management. He spoke about his vision of what to do in those five directions.
“His explanations are coverage that the community needed, as there are many disagreements, there are negative words, Artsakh security, he presented everything clearly, objectively, realistically. I think I have enough explanations in my mind. I hope the seeds that he sowed will germinate and give results,” says Vahram Shemasyan, Head of the Armenian Department at the State University of California at Northridge.
The community issues addressed to the Artsakh State Minister referred to almost all spheres of the country, from energy supply to education and tourism. The majority of the questions reflected the main concern of the community - the security of Artsakh.
“I am impressed and I think we are thinking in one direction. There is a lot of energy and compassion in the community, but many do not know how to help the Homeland and Artsakh. This visit will be a stimulus to find the potential for the sake of the Homeland and the development of Artsakh,” Beglaryan says.
“As long as the people can realize that Artsakh remains, they are fighting. It inspires hope that we have no right to be disappointed, we can create a new future,” says Tomik Aleksanyan, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Armenian Union of Iran, Chief Secretary.
“The visit of the Artsakh State Minister is important because it opens a window through which the Diaspora looks at Artsakh. What he said is important that we all have a role to play in Artsakh. Every little thing there is a great help,” says Anthony Portantino, California State Senator.
Another meeting with the community took place at the Consulate General of Armenia. There were also American officials, members of the lower house and the State Senate of California, governors of the Los Angeles County, and representatives of the city council. In their speeches, they stressed that the most influential state in the United States recognized the independence of the Artsakh Republic in 2014 and continues to stand by the people of Artsakh.
“The State Minister is the embodiment of the Artsakh struggle. The visit is especially important from a political point of view, to show that California stands by the people of Artsakh. That is a powerful message, because California is a powerful player for the whole of America and the world. California will continue to play that important role for Artsakh,” says Maria Elena Durazo, California State Senator.
“It is important for the community to keep in touch with Artsakh so that we can feel, hear, understand what is happening, and see how we can be helpful, and the relations are always open and bilateral” says Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian Representing the 46th California Assembly District.
“I was in Artsakh about four years ago, I was impressed by the attraction of that place, the culture of the Armenian people, which is embossed on every stone and structure. In Glendale, in Los Angeles, we were terrified of the war, and it moved so many people here. The activity of the State Minister, by which he shows courage and resilience, is the hope of the future that Artsakh will remain independent, the bearer of Armenian culture in the hands of Armenians,” says Assemblymember Laura Friedman represents the 43rd Assembly District.
Artak Beglaryan presented the planned programs implemented in Artsakh to the American-Armenian community and to the American officials, urging the American-Armenians to take part in them.
“We also reaffirm our commitments to Artsakh, which are more important today,” says Zaven Khanjian, Executive Director/CEO at Armenian Missionary Association of America.
“Such a visit is necessary to present their thesis to various American circles, to know the state of Artsakh, to be useful to the people,” says Vazgen Khodanian, Chairman of the Governing Body of the SDHP.
“Today we rely on two wings – Artsakh and Diaspora. We have high hopes that we will be able to achieve what is planned in Artsakh these days in cooperation with the Diaspora-Homeland-Artsakh,” says Raffi Balian, Chairman of the ADL US West Coast Central Committee.
“Artsakh needs every help these days. We must unite,” says Harut Sassounian, publisher of The California Courier.
Artak Beglaryan mentioned that the Artsakh war is not only for the Armenians, but is a universal and civilization struggle. He said that only a part of crimes against humanity committed by Azerbaijan has presented to the international community, the rest is still not fully studied and presented.
“We have the piece of Artsakh on which we live, we will continue the struggle for the recognition of our rights, we will continue the political struggle for the restoration of our lost Homeland,” Artak Beglaryan says.
The Los Angeles City Council also hosted the Artsakh State Minister. On the initiative of Council member Paul Krekorian, Artak Beglaryan met with American figures who have always supported Artsakh. They stressed that now they consider it more than important to express their support to the people of Artsakh, to reaffirm their respect for the people who have built an independent, sovereign state.
“It is important for the world to see the Los Angeles City Council highlights the recognition of Artsakh as a historically Armenian-populated area. It is important especially during the suffering of the people of Artsakh, after the war and atrocities. Immediately after the end of the pandemic restrictions, I will leave for Artsakh at the first opportunity,” says Mitch O'Farrell, Los Angeles City Council Member.
“It is important to support the people of Artsakh who have gone through hardships. We were not there, but we can imagine what was happening. We have come to express our support and communicate with an important person like Beglaryan is,” says Paul Koretz, Los Angeles City Council Member.
The members of the Los Angeles City Council stated that they had adopted a number of resolutions, by which they provided both symbolic and substantial support to Artsakh. Los Angeles City Council member Kevin de León proudly presented the medal he received from the Artsakh president, which was awarded to him in 2014, when the city of Los Angeles officially recognized Artsakh’s independence and sovereignty, urging the US federal government to do the same. This time Paul Krekorian was awarded a state award by the Artsakh State Minister.
“Many times in the Los Angeles City Council we have honored high-ranking officials of Artsakh, which they deserve as an independent, sovereign state. We have been criticized by Azerbaijan at times, but this city will continue to respect Artsakh’s independence, sovereignty and freedom. Especially now, after the war, it is very important that we, at the reception of the State Minister, tell the people of Artsakh that the city of Los Angeles stands by them,” says Paul Krekorian.
The Artsakh State Minister will continue the meetings with the Armenian-American circles in San Francisco, then on the east coast of the United States.
