The conferences of the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) aimed at protecting Armenian interests are of an annual nature. This one is taking place in a situation where Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) will soon be under siege for the 4th month.
On the very day of the conference, the letter of 60 Congressmen calling for sanctions against Azerbaijan was sent to the State Department, Congresswoman Judy Chu stated this. She was in Artsakh in 2019.
Judy Chu (member of the US Congress) – I went on that helicopter to Artsakh and I have been able to see for myself how hard the people of Artsakh were working to build a thriving, peaceful and democratic society. Azerbaijan banned my entry to their country for that visit. I consider it an honor.
Congressman Magaziner has been elected for two months and jokingly said that he is not yet on the black list of Azerbaijan, but he is working in that direction.
Seth Magaziner (US Congressman) - The Armenian Caucus was one of the first congressional committees I joined. I have already supported a number of pro-Armenian legislative initiatives.
At the moment, several pro-Armenian documents are circulating in the Congress, regarding the provision of aid of $100 million to Armenia and $60 million to Artsakh next year, limiting American aid to Azerbaijan, and the illegal blockade of Artsakh. Our lobby still has work to do to complete these initiatives.
Brad Sherman says that in 1997, when he first offered to provide direct aid to Stepanakert, it was not an easy task either, but they succeeded.
Brad Sherman (member of US Congress) - I was first got to Congress in 1997. In the same year, I offered $5 million aid to the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. The State Department was against it. They said that it would mean indirect recognition. Frankly, I assured them that I was not seeking indirect recognition at that time, but financial help back in 1997-98. But frankly, I think that we set a positive precedent regarding the recognition of Artsakh in this way. Now my goal is for the international community to tell Azerbaijan that Artsakh is not an Azerbaijani territory.
One of the key topics of the conference was also the blocking of the only road connecting Artsakh to the outside world by Azerbaijan, which has been going on for more than 100 days.
Robert Avetisyan (Permanent Representative of Artsakh in the USA) - Normal life in Artsakh is disrupted. And the reason for this is not a natural disaster or, let's say, an epidemic, but the political decision by one guy. He reserves the right to decide who will be left without medicine or baby food in Artsakh. And that is absolutely unacceptable.
Jim McGovern was elected from the city of Worcester, where Armenian-Americans founded the first Armenian Church in the United States 2 centuries ago. Dina Titus is an ethnic Greek. All of them and the head of the Armenian Caucus, Frank Pallone, condemned Azerbaijan’s threat to 120 thousand Armenians.
It is noteworthy that not all legislators present at the meeting have Armenian-American voters. For example, Sheila Jackson Lee from Texas is interested in the issue because she deals with human rights issues.
Sheila Jackson Lee (member of the US Congress) - As a member of the OSCE Helsinki Commission, I also met with Armenian parliamentarians in Vienna in February. We discussed the issue of Armenia's sovereignty and relations with its neighbors.
Brian Arduni (AAA Executive Director) - Within the framework of this conference, the Armenian Assembly of the United States also had many bilateral meetings with dozens of Congressmen from Virginia, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. It is important that they hear directly from American Armenians about their concerns.
Jim Costa from Fresno had met Nancy Pelosi before coming to the Armenian gathering. The former speaker sent greetings through me, Costa summed up.
