Chairman Royce Discusses Artsakh Peace and Security with NKR President

U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.) with Republic of Nagorno Karabakh President Bako Sahakyan.

YEREVAN—House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.) explored ways to strengthen ongoing U.S. efforts to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the Karabakh issue during a meeting with Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) President Bako Sahakyan earlier today, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

“We were pleased that U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce held constructive talks with President Sahakyan of the independent Nagorno Karabakh Republic regarding U.S. leadership, within the OSCE Minsk Group, in helping to facilitate a peaceful resolution of issues related to Artsakh’s international status and long-term security,” said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. “It always holds special meaning for Americans of Armenian heritage to reinforce the bonds of friendship between the people of America and Artsakh–based on our commonly-held values, commitment to peace, and shared democratic aspirations.”

Sahakyan was joined by NKR Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan and the Permanent Representative of NKR to Armenia in discussing the ongoing peace negotiations mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group and urged the strengthening of the U.S.-Artsakh bond.

A scene from U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce's meeting with Republic of Nagorno Karabakh President Bako Sahakyan. — A scene from U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce’s meeting with Republic of Nagorno Karabakh President Bako Sahakyan.

Participating in the discussion was a delegation of ANCA leaders who had traveled to Yerevan earlier in the week to welcome Chairman Royce and his Congressional colleagues to Armenia. The ANCA delegation included Hachikian, ANCA National Board members Raffi Hamparian and Steve Mesrobian, ANCA Western Region Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian, longtime Orange County area community leader Sylvie Tertzakian and ANCA Legislative Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian. Mesrobian and Karakashian also serve on the ANCA Eastern Region Board, which Mesrobian chairs.