PRESS RELEASE                                                       July 14, 2006

Ambassador Markarian Hosts a Reception for Official Delegation From Karabakh

On June 28, 2006, Ambassador Tatoul Markarian hosted a reception at the Embassy of Armenia in honor of Speaker Ashot Ghulian and Foreign Minister Georgi Petrosian of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. Speaker Ghulian and Minister Petrosian visited the Washington on June 26 -28, following successful meetings in Boston and New York earlier. In Washington, Speaker Ghulian and Minister Petrosian met with U.S. mediator on the Nagorno Karabakh peace process, Members of Congress, Washington-based policy and regional experts, and leaders of the Armenian-American organizations. They held a public discussion of prospects for Nagorno Karabakh settlement at a seminar organized by U.S. Institute of Peace and the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

During his welcoming remarks at the Embassy reception, Ambassador Markarian stressed the importance of the visit by Speaker Ghulian and Minister Petrosian, providing an opportunity to the elected representatives of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic to present their position on the Nagorno Karabakh peace process. In their remarks, Speaker Ghulian and Minister Petrosian noted the significant progress in democratic and economic reforms in Nagorno Karabakh and stressed the firm determination of the people of Nagorno Karabakh to live in a free, independent, and democratic state.

The reception brought together foreign diplomats, media, think tank experts on the region, representatives of the Armenian-American organizations and members of Washington’s Armenian community.

Earlier, on June 27, Ambassador Markarian co-hosted a reception on the Capitol Hill honoring the Karabakh delegation, together with the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian issues, NKR Representative in the United States, the Armenian Assembly of America and the Armenian National Committee of America.