Artsakh FM to hold policy consultations in U.S. capital 

ArmInfo. Republic of Artsakh Foreign Minister David Babayan will hold policy consultations across Washington, DC - including Congressional briefings, think tank  roundtables, university lectures and community gatherings - during an  upcoming visit to Washington, DC coinciding with an Armenian National  Committee of America (ANCA) Federal Policy Seminar.

Minister Babayan will offer the keynote speech at an ANCA event  dedicated to Artsakh security and liberty held at the historic  Woodrow Wilson House, the museum honoring the US President who  championed efforts to secure a US mandate to support the Armenian  Republic in 1918. He will also be the featured speaker at the  "Capitol Hill Salute to Artsakh's Independence," organized in  cooperation with the Congressional Armenian Caucus, which will be  held on Monday, September 19. Due to Congressional regulations  related to COVID-19, supporters of Artsakh freedom must request to  attend the Capitol Hill event.

"We welcome Minister Babayan's consultations across Washington with  US policymakers and foreign policy stakeholders - as well as his  remarks on Capitol Hill, at the Wilson House and at our policy  conference - as a meaningful contribution to constructive US  engagement on Artsakh Republic status and security issues," said ANCA  executive director Aram Hamparian. "Artsakh's voice - in Washington  and on the world stage - represents the unbending resolve, the  abiding democratic aspirations, of the Armenian nation to endure, to  survive and thrive on the very frontier of world freedom against the  forces of darkness and dictatorship."

The ANCA Federal Policy Seminar - a four-day series of presentations,  roundtable discussions and Capitol Hill visits for chapter and  community leaders - will focus on targeted initiatives to advance  ANCA strategic priorities: saving Artsakh, strengthening Armenia,  holding Azerbaijan and Turkey accountable, and securing justice for  the Armenian Genocide.

Following his Washington, DC visit, Babayan will be traveling to  California for a series of events and meetings with Armenian American  community leaders and elected officials.

Born in Artsakh's capital Stepanakert, Babayan has served as Foreign  Minister of the Republic of Artsakh since January, 2021. Prior to  that, he has held positions in government ministries of the Artsakh  Republic including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2000 - 2001); the  Presidential Planning Group (2001 - 2015); Assistant to the President  (2005 - 2007); Head of the Central Information Department of the  Office President (2007 - 2021).  He founded and currently leads the  "Artsakh Conservative Party."

Babayan has received a degree in economics from the Yerevan Institute  of National Economy, and master's degrees from American University of  Armenia and the Central European University (Budapest). He holds a  doctorate in historical science from the Armenian National Academy of  Sciences Institute of Oriental Studies. He has authored more than 300  articles and monographs of scientific research in the areas of the  Azerbaijan - Artsakh (Karabakh) negotiations, Caucasus geopolitics,  great power competition and Chinese geopolitics.