YEREVAN, APRIL 24, ARMENPRESS. On April 22, the Pico Rivera City Council, California, unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing the town of Karvachar  of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic as a “Friendship City”.

The Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic informed “Armenpress” that the resolution particularly notes that over the past quarter century, the people of Karvachar and the Republic of Arstakh have shown tenacity and perseverance in the face of war, massacres, crippling poverty and tremendous hardships. The town of Karvachar and the Republic of Artsakh have a long and rich history dating back several thousand years and are an integral part of the Armenian people’s history and culture.

The Pico Rivera City Council in its resolution emphasizes that the decision is adopted, taking into consideration a long and proud tradition in California of having supported the Armenian nation,  most notably by offering shelter to refugees who fled the Hamidian Massacres of the 1890’s and  the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.

The resolution is adopted with the support of the ANCA Western region.

The full text of resolution reads as follows:

FRIENDSHIP CITY RESOLUTION

KARVACHAR, REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

WHEREAS, the REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH declared its independence on December 10, 1991,following a People’s Referendum held three months earlier during which more than ninety-nine  percent of the voting populace voted for independence,

WHEREAS, following decades of repression by the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic, the  democratic uprising in the REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH and the persistent demand for self-determination was an inspiration to people of many nationalities in the region and was one of the  catalysts for the breakup of the former Soviet Union; and

WHEREAS, the REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH has for more than twenty years stayed true and  faithful to its citizens by remaining independent while working to bring change and stability to the  Caucasus region, and by holding free and fair elections and referendums that were widely declared  as a model for the region;

WHEREAS, over the past quarter century, the people of KARVACHAR and the REPUBLIC OF  ARSTAKH have shown tenacity and perseverance in the face of war, massacres, crippling poverty and tremendous hardships; and

WHEREAS, the town of KARVACHAR and the REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH have a long and rich history dating back several thousand years and are an integral part of the Armenian people’s history and culture; and

WHEREAS, KARVACHAR is a scenic region of high mountain peaks and river valleys, historic Armenian lands where the ancient fortress of Handaberd and the ancient monastery of Dadivank are located, and is home to many refugees who were displaced by war, rendering it among the most culturally and historically significant regions of ARTSAKH; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian culture and people of Armenian heritage have been a vital part of the  fabric which constitutes California; and

WHEREAS, California has a long and proud tradition of having supported the Armenian nation, most notably by offering shelter to refugees who fled the Hamidian Massacres of the 1890’s and the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923; and

WHEREAS, many Armenians who found refuge in California were able to do so through the generosity of Californians who were integral to the most expansive campaign of citizen philanthropy in American history at the time: the Near East Relief;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that by the adoption of this resolution, the CITY OF PICO RIVERA honors the REPUBLIC OF ARSTAKH and its citizens, and recognizes the town of KARVACHAR as a “Friendship City.” We are proud to recognize the sacrifices, dedication and resolve shown by the residents of KARVACHAR and the REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH in the face of extreme adversity and we wish the Republic and its citizens peace, prosperity and continuing success.