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Having recognized the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Artsakh seven years ago, the Los Angeles City Council on Thursday urged the United States Government to follow the city’s lead. 

In a resolution introduced by Councilmember Paul Krekorian, the City Council unanimously renewed its own recognition of Artsakh’s independence, and it instructed its Washington lobbyist to advocate for the United States to recognize, at long last, the Republic of Artsakh, Asbarez reported.

Krekorian had previously led Los Angeles in taking a series of groundbreaking steps in support of Artsakh. In 2013, the Councilmember offered a resolution approved by the Council that called on the City of Los Angeles and the international community to formally recognize the Republic of Artsakh as a free, independent and sovereign state.  Krekorian has also welcomed the President of Artsakh and other government leaders from Artsakh at Los Angeles City Hall with full diplomatic protocols befitting the leaders of a foreign state.

In 2018, at Krekorian’s request, the Council declared “Artsakh Day” in the City of Los Angeles and renewed its call to the international community to recognize the Republic of Artsakh as a free, independent and sovereign state.

The City of Los Angeles has also maintained a warm “friendship city” relationship with the city of Shushi in Artsakh.  Krekorian and his Council colleague Bob Blumenfield, together with members of the California State Legislature, were in Artsakh in 2013 for the official naming of “Los Angeles-Shushi Friendship Park.”