A Message of Hope and Unity from Artsakh

NKR President Promotes Thanksgiving Day Telethon

by Paul Chaderjian

( Fresno ) - The President of the Republic of Nagorno Karapakh, Arkady Ghoukassian, delivered an eloquent and passionate speech last week, asking local Armenians to help strengthen the spiritual and economic bridges between the homeland and the Armenian Diaspora.

President Ghoukassian spoke at a banquet in his honor, organized by Armenia Fund Fresno Committee. Welcoming the President to the Haig Berberian Hall at the Saint Paul Armenian Church was Committee Co-chair, Deacon Allan Jendian, who toasted the President in Armenian.

"On behalf of our entire community," said Jendian, "I welcome you to William Saroyan's city. General Antranig and Soghomon Tehlirian, both passed away here,  longing to return to the homeland and Karapakh. If for a moment, they would raise their heads, they would, with pride, bless the President of an independent and free Karapakh and the freedom fighters of Karapakh, who with the cost of their blood, keep safe and secure the borders of Artsakh."

The President was honored by a color guard, made up of scouts from the Armenian General Benevolent Union (Hopenetmen) and Armenian General Athletic Union (Homenetmen) carrying the flag of the United States and the republics of Armenia and Nagorno Karapakh. Students from the Armenian Community School of Fresno sang "God Bless America" and the Armenian national anthem. Soloist Shoghig Papoyan followed with a solo rendition of Karapakh's national anthem.

"I am convinced that in 1988, Artsakh, the Karapakh movement reawakened Armenians," said the President. "Many of us had begun to forget that we were Armenian. Many of us had begun to forget our culture, our language and our history; and thanks to Artsakh, we not only struggled to protect the Armenians living there but also preserve the entirety of our people."

The President eloquently recounted how the Karapakh movement had begun in 1988. "You may remember," he said, "our people in Artsakh demanded that our region be reunited with Mother Armenia; and we were waiting for a political response, a diplomatic resolution, since our request was a political one. But instead, they answered us with violence."

Armenians in Arstakh had two choices when the Azeri reacted with violence.

"We could have repeated history and again left our ancestral lands and abandon our homes," said President Ghoukassian, "or we could stand up against the oppressor and fight for our homes and our lands. We not only were able to defend our homes and land, but we also guaranteed our future well-being by liberating the nearby lands of our fathers and ancestors."

Ghoukassian told those in attendance that victory in Nagorno Karapakh was possible because Armenians around the world united, and in their unity was the strength that helped Armenians in the homeland overcome the psychological conditioning of always being the victim. The President said that the victories in Artsakh have shifted the psychological paradigm of Armenians, allowing them to now become the victors instead of the victims.

"I was very impressed by President Ghoukassian's positive and uplifting message," said Hygo Ohannessian, Armenian National Committee chairwoman and one of the committee members hosting the banquet. "He was very optimistic about the future of his countrymen. I came away with a positive feeling that the Armenians in  Karapakh will always fight for their land to the end to ensure a prosperous future."

Before attending the banquet, President Ghoukassian met privately with Congressman George Radanovich and California State Senator Chuck Poochigian and his wife, community leader Debbie Poochigian. The President and the Poochigians discussed the current political climate between Nagorno Karapakh and neighboring Azerbaijan and the importance of economic development and humanitarian assistance in promoting peace in the region.

"It was a very cordial and informative meeting," said Senator Poochigian. "Debbie and I were most impressed with President Ghoukassian's command of issues and expression of gratitude for support for Nagorno Karapakh as well as his thoughtful articulation of the need for vigilance in addressing the challenges faced by this precariously situated Republic whose independence is not widely recognized."

President Ghoukassian's visit was organized locally to help promote the upcoming Armenia Fund Thanksgiving Day Telethon. Central California residents will be able to view the global broadcast and pledge their donations to help complete the Goris-Stepanakert "Lifeline" Highway linking Armenia to Karapakh. The daylong telethon will be televised on Fresno station Channel 49 (cable 9) from noon until 8:00 PM. For those unable to watch the broadcast, the telethon will be streamed on the Internet and donation can be made on-line at www.armeniafund org.