Masis Mayiliyan speaking on Capitol Hill on Oct. 30. Photo by Arsen Kharatyan

Masis Mayiliyan speaking on Capitol Hill on Oct. 30. Photo by Arsen Kharatyan

Masis Mayilian in Washington, Calls for NKR’s Recognition

ByEmil Sanamyan

Foreign Minister of Nagorno Karabakh Masis Mayilian visited Washigton the week of October 28, meeting U.S. officials, experts and members of the Armenian community. He was joined by chair of Artsakh Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee David Melkumyan.

Speaking at a reception a Capitol Hill reception for NKR officials, Mayilian thanked U.S. for its role in providing humanitarian support to Artsakh and as co-mediator with France and Russia in the conflict with Azerbaija. Mayilian argued for recognition of Artsakh’s independence as “the most appropriate response to the threat that comes from Azerbaijan.” He added that “international recognition of Artsakh will ensure the irreversibility of the peace process, and will become an incentive for a final resolution of the conflict through negotiations.”

Among congressmen attending the reception were Reps. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), T.J. Cox (D-Calif.), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) and Jackie Speier (D-Calif.). Reps. Pallone, Chu and Speier visited Artsakh just weeks earlier.

Artsakh officials also met with Washington-based foreign policy experts at an the Council on Foreign Relations and spoke at the Center for National Interest.

Mayilian previously visited the United States in March 2018 along with outgoing president Bako Sahakyan. Earlier this year, Mayilian indicated that he plans to run for president of Artsakh in elections next spring.