ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF AMERICA
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PRESS RELEASE
September 17, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Email: [email protected]
HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS CHAIRMAN PRAISES ARMENIA’S
HELP TO U.S. DIPLOMATS DURING RECENT GEORGIA CRISIS
— Rep. Sherman Pushes for Aid to Armenia
and Javakhk; Expresses Concern about Ongoing
Anti-Armenian Efforts in Region
— Watch Video on ANCA Website:
releases.php?prid=1586
WASHINGTON, DC – House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard
Berman (D-CA), today, thanked Armenia for providing safe transit
for U.S. officials during the recent Georgia conflict, during
Committee consideration of a $470 million post-conflict assistance
package to Georgia, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).
Noting the "ripple effects" of the crisis beyond Georgia’s borders
and the absence of Armenia in the bill, Chairman Berman pledged
consideration of additional assistance to Armenia next year. He
stated, in his opening remarks, that, "I note that the ripple
effects of this crisis were clearly felt beyond Georgia’s borders.
The United States is grateful to the Armenian Government for
providing safe transit for American and international officials,
relatives of diplomats and NGO representatives and Georgia
nationals. Although this bill does not include funding for other
countries in the Caucasus region, it is my intention, when we
consider the authorization of assistance next year, to examine the
wider impact of this conflict and provide appropriate funding for
Armenia and other affected countries."
Rep. Sherman (D-CA), an outspoken supporter of post-conflict aid to
Armenia and Javakhk, expressed reservations about language in the
bill, which may support the construction of a new pipeline
bypassing Armenia.
"We see that there are pipelines in Georgia," stated Rep. Sherman.
"Why are there pipelines in Georgia? Because we funded an anti-
Armenia pipeline that violates the rules of geometry – that does
not use a straight line – but rather goes around Armenia in order
to benefit those who are trying to isolate Armenia and now there is
talk in this resolution of a new pipeline – again one designed to
avoid going through Armenia territory, avoid building a peace
pipeline between Azerbaijan and Armenia."
Rep. Sherman expressed regret that assistance to Armenia was not
included in this initial $470 million allocation and pledged his
support for future consideration. The Committee adopted the
measure with a vote of 24 to 9. The remaining $530 million will be
discussed in appropriations next year.
Video of Chairman Berman and Rep. Sherman’s remarks are posted on
the ANCA website at:
ses.php?prid=1586
"We commend Chairman Berman and Rep. Sherman for highlighting
Armenia’s large scale economic losses as a result of the Georgia
conflict," stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "While we
had hoped that assistance to Armenia and Javakhk would be included
in this first aid package to Georgia, we will continue to work with
the Foreign Affairs and Appropriations committees to ensure that
these funds are included in future assistance packages."
The ANCA has supported Congressional efforts, spearheaded by
Congressmen Brad Sherman, Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and George
Radanovich (R-CA) to ensure that the U.S. aid package includes 1) a
meaningful allocation for Javakhk, a under-developed and largely
Armenian population region in southern Georgia, and 2) a dedication
of funds to help offset the considerable economic harm that the
conflict has inflicted upon Armenia. Yerevan played a critical
role in helping to evacuate U.S. diplomatic personnel and other
international officials during the conflict.
During a hearing before this same panel last week, Congressman
Sherman pressed energetically for the aid package to include
funding for Armenia, which he described as an "innocent victim" in
the war between Georgia and Russia. Despite strong argumentation,
persistent questioning, and his recitation of facts concerning how
"Armenia has suffered tremendously as a result of this war," the
State Department’s witness, Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fried,
remained adamant in voicing the Administration’s opposition to
providing economic aid to Armenia as part of this package.
In a Congressional letter, which will soon be sent to President
Bush, Representatives Pallone and Radanovich outline two
recommendations to the White House. Firstly, ensuring that a
"meaningful level of this aid program is specifically targeted to
the vital Samtshke-Javakheti region. This largely Armenian-
inhabited area, home to roughly five percent of Georgia’s overall
population, remains, in great measure, economically undeveloped. Of
the $1 billion proposed for Georgia, a proportional share on a per
capita basis – should be officially dedicated to developmental
programs in Samtshke-Javakheti, with a special focus on alleviating
poverty, developing transportation and communication links,
promoting international trade and investment, and supporting
sustainable economic growth."
Secondly, "in light of Yerevan’s extensive assistance during this
crisis and also the large-scale economic harm it has endured as a
result of the fighting in the region," they called for setting
aside a portion of the post-conflict aid package to "help offset
the ongoing damage to Armenia’s economy." The legislators
explained that, "As a country beset by twin blockades, Armenia
conducts the vast majority of its trade through Georgia. Since the
outbreak of the conflict between Russia and Georgia, Armenia has
experienced significantly higher transportation costs, increased
prices for basic commodities such as food and fuel, and a slow down
in international investments. This harm has been estimated by
senior Armenian government officials, including the Prime Minister,
Chairman of the National Security Council, and Ambassador to the
United States, at between $680 million and $1 billion."
The Armenian government’s post-conflict contributions have been in
four key areas: 1) Safe transit for U.S. and international
officials and relatives of diplomats, NGO representatives, and
Georgian nationals; 2) reconstruction assistance for damaged
Georgian infrastructure; 3) regional dialogue toward peace and
stability, and; 4) alleviating the humanitarian burden on the
Georgian government.
To read about Congressman Sherman’s efforts, and to view video of
his exchange with a senior State Department official, visit:
es.php?prid=1584
For the full text of the Congressional letter to President Bush,
visit:
ess_releases.php?prid=1585
To view the ANCA action alert on this subject, visit:
lertid=11926716&type=CO
The full text of the ANCA issue brief circulated to Congressional
offices is provided below.
#####
ANCA Issue Brief:
Armenia’s constructive response to the crisis in Georgia
Armenia has played a balanced and constructive role in addressing
the humanitarian crisis caused by the recent Russian-Georgian
conflict, and is working with the nations of the region to help
restore peace and stability.
1) Safe transit
Armenia provided a "humanitarian corridor" for the safe transit of:
— More than 150 U.S. officials and their family members.
— Hundreds of international personnel, including foreign embassy
officials
and NGO representatives.
— Thousands of Georgian nationals seeking refuge from the
conflict.
(Armenia waived all airport fees and transportation taxes.)
2) Reconstruction assistance
Armenia sent a team of repair personnel to Georgia’s Gori region,
along with a train of rail cars carrying construction materials, to
help rebuild a key Georgian railroad bridge that was destroyed in
the fighting.
3) Peace and stability
Armenia’s President has spoken to both Georgian President Mikhail
Saakashvili and Russian President Dimitry Medvedev to express
Armenia’s condolences over the loss of life during the recent
fighting, and to discuss Armenia’s hope for a timely return to
peace and stability in the region.
4) Regional cooperation
Armenia helped alleviate a potential additional humanitarian burden
on the Georgian government by managing the timely and orderly
return to Armenia of several thousand Armenian nationals who were
visiting Georgia at the time of the conflict.