The Maine House of Representatives and Senate passed a joint resolution on April 10 morning recognizing the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR), and calling on the U.S. President and Congress “to support the self-determination and democratic independence” of NKR, The Armenian Weekly reported.

The resolution urged the President and Congress to support NKR’s “constructive involvement with the international community’s efforts to reach a just and lasting solution to security issues in that strategically important region.”

The resolution was introduced by Rep. Scott Hamann (South Portland) and co-sponsored by Rep. A.M. Gattine (Westbrook) and S. Gideon (Freeport).

“I am so proud of my state, the State of Maine, for supporting the right of the free Armenian people of Nagorno Karabakh to freedom, democracy and independence through self-determination. I hope other states follow their sister states Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Maine and do the right thing,” author and lawyer Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte of Portland said.

Maine is the third state to pass such a resolution. On May 17, 2012, The Rhode Island House passed a resolution calling on the U.S. president and Congress to recognize the independence of NKR. On Aug. 6, 2012, the House of Representatives of the State of Massachusetts adopted a similar resolution.