The Los Angeles City Council on Friday passed a motion approving a donation of a 1,600-foot fire hose, which will be used on a fire truck that is being donated to Stepanakert, the capital of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic by the Montebello City Council, Asbarez reports.
LA City Councilman Paul Krekorian introduced the measure, which passed the City Council on Friday. The motion provided an extensive history of the damage endured by Stepanakert as a result of Azeri attacks on the city from Shushi during the Karabakh war in the early 1990’s.
The motion also emphasized the “friendship city” status Los Angeles shares with the city of Shushi in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and calls on the city to make the fire hose available for transport to Stepanakert.
“I’m so happy that my City Council colleagues unanimously joined me in donating surplus equipment to the City of Stepanakert,” said Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian, District 2. “Los Angeles has a long history of providing humanitarian aid to our friends in need, and I hope this contribution will help Stepanakert’s fire department. We wish the people of Stepanakert nothing but peace and prosperity in the days ahead.”
“We are grateful to the Los Angeles City Council for the donation of surplus fire hoses to Stepanakert and particularly Councilmember Paul Krekorian for working with us and spearheading this effort. We know it will go a long way for the people of Artsakh and look forward to helping facilitate the transportation of the donation along with the fire truck donated by City of Montebello through our local chapters,” said Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region Executive Director Elen Asatryan.
Through the efforts of the ANCA San Gabriel Valley and the current Mayor Pro-Tem of Montebello, Jack Hadjinian, the Montebello Fire Department donate a fire truck valued at $150,000, that is to be sent to Stepanakert.
Since 2005, the city of Montebello has established a sister city association with Stepanakert. The city and its institutions have been committed to creating and strengthening a partnership between the communities.
The fire truck donation from Montebello was part of the recognition of the sister-city relationship with Stepanakert.
“This generous donation is a testament to the commitment that the city of Montebello has invested into this municipal partnership and its efforts to encourage community development in Stepanakert,” said the ANCA of San Gabriel Valley when it first publicized the fire truck donation in February.
