Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
July 25, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
HOUSE AFFIRMS POLICY OF REGIONAL COOPERATION
Rejects Attempts to Isolate Armenia
Washington, DC – The House of Representatives today voted to help
ensure that U.S. regional cooperation and economic integration is
maintained by making certain that no Export-Import funding is used for
a railroad project sponsored by the Turkish and Azeri governments that
seeks to exclude Armenia from economic and regional transportation
opportunities.
Lawmakers approved H.R. 5068, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization
Act of 2006, which included an amendment by Congressman Joseph Crowley
(D-NY), along with Congressmen Edward Royce (R-CA) and Brad Sherman
(D-CA), ensuring that taxpayer dollars will not be spent on efforts
that would isolate Armenia – which is already facing dual blockades by
Turkey and Azerbaijan.
The amendment, which was unanimously approved by the House Financial
Services Committee last month, states that “The Bank shall not
guarantee, insure, extend credit, or participate in an extension of
credit in connection with the development or promotion of any rail
connections or railway-related connections that do not traverse or
connect with Armenia, and do traverse or connect Baku, Azerbaijan,
Tbilisi, Georgia, and Kars, Turkey.”
In a statement submitted for the House record, Crowley said “This
language will assist in promoting stability in the Caucasus region,
help in ending long standing conflicts, and save U.S. taxpayers the
responsibility of funding a project that goes against U.S. interests.”
Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), who spoke in favor of H.R. 5068
on the House floor, said “I support the provisions which would
prohibit the Export-Import Bank from funding railroad projects in the
South Caucasus region that deliberately exclude Armenia.”
The Crowley-Royce-Sherman provision was modeled after H.R. 3361, the
South Caucasus Integration and Open Railroads Act, both of which the
Assembly strongly supports. The legislation, which also has a Senate
counterpart, would prohibit U.S. assistance for the promotion or
development of a railroad that would connect the three countries and
exclude Armenia. The House bill, introduced by Armenian Caucus
Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), along with Co-Chair Frank Pallone,
Jr. (D-NJ) and Caucus Member George Radanovich (R-CA), currently has
87 cosponsors.
The proposed bypass railway is estimated to cost upwards of $800
million and is expected to take years to construct. The existing line,
which crosses Armenia, is in working condition and could be
operational in a matter of weeks at very little cost. Armenian
government officials have repeatedly said that a new costly railway is
unnecessary given that a railroad linking Armenia, Georgia and Turkey
already exists.
“Passage of H.R. 5068 with the Crowley-Royce-Sherman provision, which
was modeled after H.R. 3361 helps ensure that the U.S. will not be
party to the flawed policies of Armenia’s neighbors,” said Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny.
Ardouny also drew a parallel to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and
noted that when the pipeline was first announced, it was in the
context of supporting multiple pipelines but instead all routes
bypassed Armenia.
“This time we must ensure that Armenia is not bypassed,” Ardouny said.
Recently, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried reiterated
U.S. policy in the South Caucasus which seeks to promote regional
cooperation and economic integration.
“The U.S. Government strongly encourages regional integration in the
Caucasus, including in our discussions with Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Turkey, and other countries in the region,” Fried said. “Removing
trade barriers would improve regional integration and enhance economic
cooperation and development. The proposed railway would bypass
Armenia and thus not be beneficial to regional integration.”
Similarly, Ambassador to Azerbaijan Anne Derse explained that “Because
the proposed railway would bypass Armenia, and thus not be beneficial
to regional integration, we have no plans to support such a railway
financially.”
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev told an Azeri news agency last
summer that, “We are currently working on a new project – a new rail
road Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku..If we succeed with this project,
the Armenians will end in complete isolation, which would create an
additional problem for their future, their already bleak future…”
Meanwhile, a meeting of transport ministers from Azerbaijan, Turkey
and Georgia, slated for mid-June, was postponed following action by
the U.S. Congress to prohibit American companies from participating in
the railway construction. The meeting is scheduled to take place on
July 27 in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The Export-Import Bank is a federal government agency which provides
loans, loan guarantees and insurance to support exports of U.S. goods
and services to international markets.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.
### NR#2006-070
Editor’s note: Attached is the text of Congressman Crowely’s statement
for the record.
EXPORT-IMPORT REAUTHORIZATION STATEMENT Congressman Joseph Crowley
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
* Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Export-Import Bank
Reauthorization under suspension vote today.
* This is a sound, bipartisan bill.
* So often, people see the acrimonious side of this House rife with
partisanship and member distrust.
* We do not have that on the Financial Services Committee, and that is
due in large part to the leadership of our Chairman Mike Oxley and
our Ranking Member Barney Frank.
* While I am working hard to see Barney become our Chairman in the
110th Congress, I just want to salute our outgoing Chair, Mike
Oxley.
* He is a hard working member who is not afraid to roll up his sleeves
and work with people across the aisle to get the important work
done. he is results orientated.
* Legislatively, he has a long list of accomplishments to be proud of,
including this bill, but it is his spirit of bipartisanship,
friendship and class for which we should all look to him for.
* But he can also be a formidable foe, from the Committee room to the
baseball diamond.
* He will be missed next year.
* Stating that I do support this bipartisan bill — it is a real jobs
bill.
* This bill will strengthen the Export-Import Bank’s abilities to
allow American companies to compete in the global market as we try
to increase our exports, increase our global competitiveness and
create more and better paying jobs in the USA.
* This is a bill about exporting products not jobs.
* Additionally, besides the overall nature of this bill, I was able to
add important language to this reauthorization pertaining to the
nation of Armenia – a strong US ally in the Caucasus.
* My amendment, done with Congressmen Ed Royce and Brad Sherman,
prohibits the Export-Import Bank from funding any railway projects
from Azerbaijan, through Georgia and Turkey, which specifically
bypasses Armenia. I am very pleased that this language was included
in the final version of this legislation being debated on the House
floor today.
* This language will assist in promoting stability in the Caucasus
region, help in ending long standing conflicts, and save
U.S. taxpayers the responsibility of funding a project that goes
against U.S. interests.
* For over 10 years, Armenia has fought an illegal blockade, imposed
on them by the countries of Turkey and Azerbaijan. These two
countries continually exclude Armenia from regional development.
* Just recently, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia finished construction
on the Baku -Tblisi-Ceyhan pipeline. This pipeline does not pass
through Armenia, even though the fastest and most economically sound
route is through the country.
* Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia now plan on constructing a railway
that will completely bypass Armenia once again; once again excluding
Armenia from regional development.
* Exclusion of one country in regional projects only fosters
instability. Having Export-Import Bank support a railway project
which excludes Armenia is not the way to include all countries in
regional development. I am pleased that the Bank is now prohibited
from doing so in this bill.
* Besides possibly creating a regional crisis, this project, if funded
by the Export-Import Bank could cost taxpayers millions. I do not
believe that U.S. taxpayers should be funding a project that goes
against U.S. interests.
* I am pleased this good language was added to an already good bill –
a jobs bill for America.
* Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support the Export-Import
Reauthorization.
-30-