[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 110 (Wednesday, September 15, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN SUPPORT OF KANSAS-ARMENIA PARTNERSHIP DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY MORAN

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 15, 2004

  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an Armenian-
American who has chosen Kansas as his home, and is tirelessly devoted 
to bringing Kansas and Armenia closer together. Alex Kotoyantz, now a 
resident of Junction City, Kansas, has worked with Kansas Governor 
Kathleen Sebelius to have June 18 designated as Kansas-Armenia 
Partnership Day.
  The Kansas National Guard State Partnership Program has allowed 
Kansans to travel to Armenia twice for the purposes of assisting with 
peacekeeping operations as well as health and medical operations. As a 
former Soviet republic that has faced tragic ethnic conflict, Armenia 
is in need of assistance. Kansans can and are providing valuable aid.
  I would like to include in the Record Governor Sebelius's 
proclamation that declares June 18 Kansas-Armenia Partnership Day. It 
reads as follows:

       ``Whereas, The National Guard's State Partnership Program 
     has achieved outstanding success in establishing a military-
     to-military association and in improving security cooperation 
     between the United States and partner countries; and
       Whereas, Kansas is proud to partner with Armenia in 
     military-to-military, military-to-civilian, and civilian-to-
     civilian contacts and development; and
       Whereas, The Kansas National Guard hopes that this endeavor 
     will foster goodwill between Kansas and Armenia and achieve a 
     secure, prosperous and dignified future for the citizens of 
     Armenia; and
       Whereas, Armenia's Deputy Minister of Defense and the U.S. 
     Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense signed the Bi-Lateral 
     Affairs Agreement at the close of the Bi-Lateral Defense 
     Consultations, June 13-18, 2003; and
       Whereas, Kansas is grateful for the contributions of 
     Armenian Americans who have chosen Kansas as their adopted 
     homeland; they have employed wisdom, courage and centuries-
     old traditions to enrich the character of our state;
       Now, therefore, I, Kathleen Sebelius, Governor of the State 
     of Kansas, salute the modern nation of Armenia and Armenians 
     everywhere, and do hereby proclaim June 18, 2004, as Kansas-
     Armenia Partnership Day in Kansas and urge all citizens to 
     join in this observance. Our state and the Armenian nation 
     stand together, with our partnership of peace, prosperity and 
     freedom.''

  I am proud that my state has taken this initiative, and I will 
continue to support the Kansas National Guard in its partnership with 
Armenia.

                          ____________________