US Congressional Armenian Caucus members Frank Pallone, Adam Schiff, Gus Bilirakis, and David Valadao have congratulated Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) National Assembly (NA) speaker Davit Ishkhanyan on the occasion of the Artsakh Independence Day anniversary, the Artsakh NA reports.

In their congratulatory message, these US congressmen expressed their support and commitment to Artsakh in connection with the celebrations of more than three decades of independence.

These American lawmakers noted that they continue to support the people of Artsakh, who are showing incredible resilience in the face of widespread shortages of food, medicine, and other essential supplies due to Azerbaijan's ongoing blockade of the Lachin corridor. 

They stated that they continue to call on the US to provide substantial assistance to the displaced Artsakh families in Armenia and to those who bravely remain in Artsakh.

These congressmen said they will continue to pressure the US administration to use all available diplomatic tools to stop the illegal actions of Azerbaijani president Aliyev’s regime, which they say clearly meet the definition of ethnic cleansing.

The ongoing humanitarian crisis has demonstrated the dire need for action by international players and pressure on Aliyev to force him to return to direct talks with Artsakh's democratically elected officials, the aforesaid American lawmakers noted, and added that Artsakh should be able to directly participate in the talks on its future status and that lasting and stable peace must be ensured.