Ceremony of Honoring Representative Frank Pallone

Residence of Ms. Annie Totah, Potomac, MD
June 12, 2002

Representative Pallone,
Minister Melkoumian,
Dear friends,

It will be my privilege tonight to present the Order of Mkhitar Gosh to Representative Frank Pallone. In awarding the Order of Mkhitar Gosh to Mr. Pallone, Armenian President Robert Kocharian cited his "outstanding contribution to the development and strengthening of the amicable relations between the United States and the Republic of Armenia."

I know that Congressman Pallone was supposed to be in Yerevan during the Armenia-Diaspora conference, as the Armenian representative from Long Branch… I am just joking, but, in reality, Representative Pallone is a frequent and welcome guest in Armenia. The business in the House of Representatives prevented him from going to Armenia in May, and tonight, I am delighted to present him with the award.

It is very appropriate that Representative Pallone receives the Order of Mkhitar Gosh, named after a twelfth-century Armenian priest, writer, and lawmaker. Mkhitar Gosh's main accomplishment was codification of the Armenian national laws. Obviously, Mr. Pallone's contribution to the U.S. legislation concerning Armenia in the last ten years is having a lasting effect on Armenia.

We have always felt the support of the United States people and their elected representatives in the U.S. Congress for Armenian issues. The people of Armenia also recall with gratitude the invaluable assistance rendered during the 1988 earthquake in Armenia and since regaining independence in 1991. We are forever grateful to the American people for their generous help to our nation. Our hearts went to the American people during the tragic days of last September. Armenia has helped and is helping the United States-led campaign against international terrorism in Afghanistan.

The U.S.-Armenia relations will only grow stronger in the years to come. We are looking forward to continuing political and security dialogue, developing military cooperation, promoting the bilateral trade and commercial ties, which benefit American and Armenian companies, and other issues of bilateral interest, such as Armenia's accession to WTO, and establishment of a free trade arrangement between out countries.

The success of the U.S. assistance programs in Armenia has been made possible by many individuals, but I want to single out Representative Pallone for his outstanding leadership on the U.S.-Armenian bilateral relations. As I said, Mr. Pallone is a frequent guest in Armenia and Artsakh. The Armenian-American community has a great friend in Representative Pallone. His integrity and professionalism, strong environmental credentials and international outlook have been evident throughout his long and distinguished service to the American people, as a Long Branch City Council member, a state senator in New Jersey, and as United States Representative from the Sixth District in New Jersey. With three college degrees and an impeccable career of public service, Mr. Pallone can serve as a role model for citizens of Armenia and the United States.

Tonight we have another distinguished visitor here, the Foreign Minister of Nagorno Karabakh, Naira Melkoumian. I must say that Representative Pallone was also instrumental in securing an appropriations bill for Nagorno Karabakh in 1997, and in the years since. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, genocide recognition, regional cooperation in the South Caucasus, and Armenia's relations with its neighbors are issues on the Congressman's agenda.

So, let me once again thank the Congressman for his support of the Republic of Armenia and Artsakh, and, may I add, we look forward to working with you in the Congress in the years to come. On behalf of the President of Armenia, I will now present you the Order of Mkhitar Gosh.