{"id":13293,"date":"2017-09-18T14:17:25","date_gmt":"2017-09-18T14:17:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ancnews.info\/?p=13293"},"modified":"2017-09-18T14:17:25","modified_gmt":"2017-09-18T14:17:25","slug":"u-s-rep-david-valadao-visits-artsakh-reviews-halo-trusts-de-mining-efforts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ancnews.info\/?p=13293","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Rep. David Valadao Visits Artsakh; Reviews HALO Trust\u2019s De-Mining Efforts"},"content":{"rendered":"

ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian Joins Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair in Exploring Growth of U.S.-Artsakh Ties<\/strong><\/p>\n

STEPANAKERT, ARTSAKH REPUBLIC \u2013 Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman David Valadao (R-CA) visited Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) today, where, alongside government officials and ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian, he reviewed life-saving HALO Trust de-mining programs that he has helped fund as a leading member of the House Appropriations Committee, reported the Armenian National Committee of America<\/a> (ANCA).<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is great to be here on the ground, in Artsakh, with Representative Valadao, author of the ANCA-backed U.S. House amendment funding the Artsakh aid program,\u201d said ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian. \u201cWitnessing firsthand America\u2019s life-saving, peace-making contribution to the future of the Republic of Artsakh is, for sure, a proud moment for all Armenian Americans.\u201d<\/p>\n

The trip comes just two weeks after Rep. Valadao introduced an amendment, adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives, calling for continued U.S. assistance for the HALO Trust\u2019s de-mining efforts across the interior farmlands and villages of the Artsakh Republic. The Valadao Amendment was approved by voice vote, as part of the FY 2018 foreign aid appropriation, which, in turn, is part of a broader spending measure (H.R. 3354), approved on September 14th. Congressman David Valadao was joined in supporting this bipartisan measure by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA), House Intelligence Committee Ranking Democrat Adam Schiff (D-CA), and his fellow Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Jackie Speier (D-CA). The decisive move was welcomed by the ANCA, which spearheaded the launch of Artsakh aid in the 1990\u2019s and has, over the past two decades, secured tens of millions of dollars in U.S. assistance to the independent republic.<\/p>\n

During his meeting with the HALO Trust\u2019s Regional Director Ash Boddy and local leaders, portions of which were broadcast live on their Facebook page, Rep. Valadao saw first-hand the lifesaving efforts of the organization, which, over the last 16 years, has destroyed over 8,733 anti-personnel mines, 2,584 anti-tank landmines, 180,858 small arms ammunition, 12,423 cluster bombs and 48,572 other explosive items in Artsakh. The HALO Trust looks to complete Artsakh demining efforts by 2020.<\/p>\n

The HALO Trust\u2019s live video is available on YouTube at:<\/p>\n