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NEWS

Apr 6, 2016
1 min

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s Statement on Nagorno Karabakh Cease-fire

I am encouraged by the reports of the cessation of hostilities along the Nagorno Karabakh Line of Contact. I urge the sides to respect the cease-fire, show restraint and prevent any new escalation. NATO supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group. The parties need to go back to the negotiating table and find a comprehensive settlement, under the auspices of the Co-chairs. There is no military solution to the conflict. The peaceful resolution of conflicts is one of the core c

Mar 2, 2016
1 min

Armenian Foreign Minister Received NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General

On March 2, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Defense Policy and Planning Jonathan Parish. Foreign Minister Nalbandian shared with Parish the achievements as a result of continuous cooperation between Armenia and NATO. While expressing his gratitude, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General mentioned that relations between Armenia and the North Atlantic Alliance are are a high p

Feb 8, 2016
1 min

NATO Cooperation Reaches Fruition as New University Opens in Armenia

(NATO) – The National Defense Research University (NDRU) opened its doors on January 28, in Yerevan, Armenia. The opening of the NDRU is a product of close cooperation through NATO’s Defense Education Enhancement Program (DEEP) and represents a major milestone in the transformation of the Armenian Armed Forces. During the opening ceremony, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan awarded the Medal of Gratitude to Dr James Keagle, Professor at the US National Defense University and L

Dec 14, 2015
2 min

The Working Visit of the Delegation of the Republic of Armenia to the NATO Headquarters

(MFA) – On December 10, the session in the format of NATO Partnerships and Cooperative Security Committee + Armenia was held at NATO Headquarters. The session was chaired by James Appathurai, the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia. The Armenian delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Ashot Hovakimyan and First Deputy Defense Minister David Tonoyan. During the session the Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan (I

Sep 4, 2014
6 min

The Assembly Agenda: This week in Washington, D.C. – September 4, 2014

By Taniel Koushakjian (@Taniel_Shant) AAANews Blog HOUSE: The House is in the last week of the summer recess and will return next Monday, September 8th. Although Congress will only be in session for two weeks before the midterm election, there are many legislative issues left to address, most importantly: funding the government. Although both chambers have adopted fiscal year (FY) 2015 appropriations bills that cover funding for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, Congress has been

Aug 7, 2014
2 min

Representatives Adam Schiff, Brad Sherman Condemn Azerbaijan Aggression Against People of Karabakh

AAANews Blog Today, Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Brad Sherman (D-CA) commented on the latest Azerbaijani aggression against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. Congressman Schiff said that “For two decades, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh have lived with constant threats and sniper fire from Azerbaijan, which seeks to reassert control over the overwhelmingly Armenian population of the region. Last week, Azeri forces again attacked across the Line of Contact, resulting in

Jul 29, 2014
3 min

Meet the Writers

By Taniel Koushakjian AAANews Blog Every summer, the Armenian Assembly of America family grows as the Terjenian-Thomas interns embark on an 8-week adventure in our nation’s capital. While many of our interns are working in their respective fields all over Washington, a select group who have a passion for journalism, communications, and politics have gained experience working in the Assembly’s press department. Gevorg Shahbazyan spends his time working between the Assembly com

Jul 18, 2014
3 min

Turkish Denial of Armenian Genocide Raised in Congressional Hearing on Future of Turkish Democracy

By Peter Kechichian AAANews Blog This week, Turkey’s 99-year campaign of Armenian Genocide denial and other significant Armenian American issues were raised at a special subcommittee hearing by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The hearing, held on Tuesday, July 15th, at the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats, was entitled “The Future of Turkish Democracy,” under the direction of Subcommittee Chairman Congressman Dana Rohrab

Jul 18, 2014
4 min

NATO and Azerbaijan: An Unbalanced Partnership

By Peter Kechichian and Gevorg Shahbazyan AAANews Blog Last week, Azerbaijan was again the focus of a U.S. foreign policy discussion. On July 1st, the Atlantic Council hosted a forum in Washington D.C. entitled, “NATO in the Caucasus: The Case of Azerbaijan.” Moderated by Mr. David Koranyi, the Deputy Director of the Atlantic Council’s Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center, the panel featured influential analysts who cover this strategic region. These included Ambassador Khazar Ibrahi

Jul 10, 2014
2 min

Obama Nominates New Ambassadors to Turkey and Azerbaijan

Peter Kechichian AAANews Blog The former U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, John R. Bass, is one step closer to becoming the next U.S. Ambassador to Turkey. Today, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) announced that his nomination hearing will be held on Tuesday, July 15 at 10 AM. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), who chairs the SFRC Subcommittee on European Affairs, will be presiding. Similarly, the White House announced yesterday that Robert F. Cekuta has been nominated to ser

Jun 26, 2014
5 min

The Assembly Agenda: This week in Washington, D.C. – June 26, 2014

By Taniel Koushakjian (@Taniel_Shant) AAANews Blog HOUSE: The House is in session this week with final votes scheduled for Thursday night. Congress will begin their 4th of July recess this Friday and will return on Tuesday, July 8th. – HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE VOTE THIS MORNING: Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee is scheduled to markup H.R. 4347, the Turkey Christian Churches Accountability Act, at 9 AM. There has been heavy opposition to this bill, according t

Jun 19, 2014
5 min

Russian policies in Ukraine and their effect on the South Caucasus

By: Gevorg Shahbazyan, Summer Intern, Armenian Assembly of America On Monday, June 16, the Jamestown Foundation held a conference entitled “Repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian Conflict on Moldova and the South Caucasus,” at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C. The two panel conference featured several policy experts and former U.S. government officials, including Margarita Assenova, Director of Programs for the Balkans, Caucasus & Central Asia

Apr 2, 2014
2 min

Congresswoman Speier Calls Armenian Christians “Unseen Victims in Syrian Civil War”

Today, Congresswomen Jackie Speier (D-CA) issued the following statement following the recent attacks against Armenian Christians in Kessab, Syria, which forced around 2,000 people to flee their homes. “Armenians are once again being forced to leave their homes as Syria’s civil war rages on and Turkey meddles in the war-torn country’s affairs. The small village of Kessab was a safe haven for this Christian community but now their futures are cast in great doubt as they seek r

Mar 29, 2014
6 min

U.S. State Department “Deeply Troubled” by Attacks Against Armenians in Kessab, Syria

March 29, 2014 By Taniel Koushakjian Yesterday, Marie Harf, Deputy Spokesperson at the U.S. Department of State, made the following statement during the daily press briefing: We are deeply troubled by recent fighting and violence that is endangering the Armenian community in Kessab, Syria, and has forced many to flee. There are far too many innocent civilians suffering as a result of the war. All civilians, as well as their places of worship, must be protected. As we have

Mar 27, 2014
1 min

Representative Adam Schiff Calls Attack on Kessab Armenians: “Beyond Appalling”

According to a press announcement from Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), today he released the following statement “on the attacks by Al Qaeda-affiliated terrorists against Kessab Armenians and Christians:” “The vicious attacks by al Qaeda affiliated terrorists against Armenians and other Christians in the Syrian town of Kessab in northern Syria are beyond appalling. These attacks, which reportedly originated in Turkey, reflect the depth of the depravity to which the conflict i

Mar 5, 2014
15 min

Preserving the Historical Record in U.S. Congress on 1988 Anti-Armenian Pogroms in Sumgait

The following statements were made by Members of the U.S. Congress to commemorate and preserve in the historical record the 1988 anti-Armenian pogroms in Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku, Azerbaijan. Every year, Members of Congress rise to remember the brutal persecution of Armenians in Azerbaijan, events which ultimately led to the independence movement of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. IN REMEMBRANCE OF SUMGAIT, KIROVABAD AND BAKU MASSACRES — SPEECH OF HON. BRAD SHERMAN OF CALI

Jan 31, 2014
2 min

The Assembly Agenda – January 31, 2014

THE WHITE HOUSE: This week, both the House and Senate returned to Washington and assembled on Tuesday for a bicameral session to receive the President of the United States for the annual State of the Union speech. Addressing Congress and the American people, President Obama proclaimed, “America doesn’t stand still – and neither will I,” as he looks to use his arsenal of executive actions to circumvent Congress in the coming years. The question on the minds of Armenian-America

Oct 21, 2013
1 min

Aliyev's Special Relationship with Axe Murderers

Aliyev, Azerbaijan & Axe Murders #Karabakh #IlhamAliyev #GurgenMargaryan #Azerbaijan #NATO #ArmenianAssemblyofAmerica #meme #NagornoKarabakh #axerbaijan #Armenian #Armenia #Hungary

Oct 18, 2013
6 min

Spotlight Refocus: The Latest on Turkey

By: Hamlet Tamazian & Bobby Avakian The American spotlight on the unrest in Turkey has faded since the worst of the Taksim Square riots, Gezi Park protests, and anti-Erdogan rallies. However, there is still much turmoil in Turkey and the region, and new problems are developing – making old issues more complex. Still, the democratic and human rights progress made during the protests has registered a permanent cultural shift among the people of Turkey. The Turkish government is