Armenian National Committee of America
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PRESS RELEASE
July 26, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
REP. PALLONE URGES SENATE
TO BLOCK HOAGLAND NOMINATION
— Describes Administration’s Denial that it Communicated with
the Turkish Government on the Evans Issue as “Not Credible”
WASHINGTON, DC – In a July 25th speech on the House floor,
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
called on the U.S. Senate to block the nomination of Richard
Hoagland to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, reported
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
In his remarks, the New Jersey legislator outlined the reasons for
his opposition, notably Ambassador-designate Hoagland’s denial of
the Armenian Genocide and his evasiveness and lack of
responsiveness to Senate inquiries. He also highlighted the
failure of the Administration to respond honestly to communications
it held with the Turkish government concerning the firing of
current U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans over his February
2005 remarks affirming the Armenian Genocide.
Congressman Pallone closed his speech by noting his “fear that
sending an ambassador to Yerevan who denies the Armenian genocide
would represent a tragic escalation in the Bush administration’s
ignorance and support in Turkey’s campaign of genocide denial. The
State Department has reported to Senate offices that they expect
Ambassador Designate Hoagland to be confirmed during a business
meeting early next week. I would urge the Senate to block his
nomination until this administration recognizes the Armenian
genocide.”
The full text of Congressman Pallone’s speech is provided below.
#####
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PAGE H5818
July 25, 2006
AMBASSADOR NOMINEE RICHARD HOAGLAND
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to express my
concerns with the nomination of Richard Hoagland as U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia . Many questions remain regarding U.S. policy on the
Armenian genocide, and they remain unanswered. Key Senate Foreign
Relations Committee members continue to have serious misgivings
about the nomination.
Two weeks ago, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee considered
Mr. Hoagland’s nomination. During the hearing, Mr. Hoagland failed
to adequately respond to the questions asked by the Senators,
including not clarifying the U.S.’s policy in the denial of the
Armenian genocide. In many instances, he did not respond to
specific Senate inquires. He diverted his answers by responding
with what seemed like prepared talking points, and went to great
lengths to avoid using the term genocide.
Additionally, in response to a written inquiry from Senator John
Kerry concerning Turkey’s criminal prosecution of journalists for
writing about the Armenian genocide, Mr. Hoagland referred to these
writings as allegations.
Mr. Speaker, the U.S. has historically taken a leadership role in
preventing genocide and human rights violations, but the Bush
administration continues to play word games by not calling evil by
its proper name. Instead, they refer to the mass killings of 1.5
million Armenians as tragic events. This term cannot be substituted
for genocide. The two words are simply not synonymous.
Mr. Speaker, there are historical documents that cannot be refuted,
yet somehow the Administration continues to ignore the truth in
fear of offending another government.
The Bush administration has not offered a meaningful explanation of
its reasons for firing the current U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John
Evans. In fact, the State Department’s assertion that it did not
receive any communications from the Turkish Government concerning
Ambassador Evans’ February 2005 affirmation of the Armenian
genocide is simply not credible.
Official Department of Justice filings by the Turkish Government’s
registered foreign agent, the Livingston Group, document that there
are at least four different occasions of communications with State
Department officials following Ambassador Evans’ remarks affirming
the Armenian genocide. Still, the State Department refutes these
claims.
Mr. Speaker, this lack of honesty has been an all too common
practice of the Bush administration. The American people and this
Congress deserve a full and truthful account of the role of the
Turkish Government in denying the Armenian genocide. Our Nation’s
response to genocide should not be denigrated to a level acceptable
to the Turkish Government. It is about time the Bush administration
started dictating a policy for Americans and not for a foreign
government.
Mr. Speaker, I fear that sending an ambassador to Yerevan who
denies the Armenian genocide would represent a tragic escalation in
the Bush administration’s ignorance and support in Turkey’s
campaign of genocide denial. The State Department has reported to
Senate offices that they expect Ambassador Designate Hoagland to be
confirmed during a business meeting early next week. I would urge
the Senate to block his nomination until this administration
recognizes the Armenian genocide.

[Congressional Record: July 25, 2006 (House)]
[Page H5744-H5754]
>From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr25jy06-127]
EXPORT-IMPORT BANK REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2006
H.R. 5068
SEC. 18. PROHIBITION ON ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOP OR PROMOTE ANY
RAIL CONNECTIONS OR RAILWAY-RELATED CONNECTIONS
THAT TRAVERSE OR CONNECT BAKU, AZERBAIJAN,
TBILISI, GEORGIA, AND KARS, TURKEY, AND THAT
SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDE CITIES IN ARMENIA.
Section 2(b) of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 (12
U.S.C. 635(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(13) 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. ”.
Mr. CROWLEY. 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 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 oriented.
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 U.S.A.
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 U.S. 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 bypass
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.
Now Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia 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.
Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, today the House is considering H.R.
5068, legislation that will reauthorize the Export-Import Bank for the
next 5 years. I support this legislation.
Since it was created over 60 years ago, the Export-Import Bank has
provided crucial support for American exporting businesses–especially
small businesses. Because small businesses provide the majority of jobs
here in the U.S., the work of the Bank translates into real jobs for
American workers.
I am particularly pleased this bill includes a provision that
prohibits assistance from the Export-Import Bank for a proposed new
railroad that would connect Turkey, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, but would
intentionally circumvent Armenia. This provision is extremely similar to
H.R. 3361,
the South Caucasus Integration and Open Railroads Act, legislation
I introduced to ensure U.S. taxpayer funds are not used to promote a
proposal or program that directly undermines the United States goal of
fostering integration and cooperation among the countries in the South
Caucasus.
Open and integrated transportation routes among Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, and Turkey are necessary to promote cooperation, support
economic growth, and help resolve regional conflicts. Unfortunately,
this policy is being undermined in an effort to push Armenia further
into isolation.
The design for the new rail line defies logistical and geographical
logic, and intends to prevent future economic development from reaching
Armenia. The proposed rail link would cost between $400 million and
$800 million and would take years to construct, even though a perfectly
workable rail link that goes through the city of Gyumri, Armenia
already exists and would be fully operational with a few minor repairs.
Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleagues on the House Financial Services
Committee that included this provision into this bill and I urge
support for passage of H.R. 5068.
Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5068, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were refused.
So (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were
suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

Armenian minister urges Azerbaijan to agree to mediators’ recent proposal
Mediamax news agency
24 Jul 06
Yerevan, 24 July: The Armenian side hopes that during his upcoming
visit to the region the US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew
Bryza, can persuade Azerbaijan to return to the talks on the basis
of the mediators’ recent proposal, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan told a joint news conference with the European Union special
representative for the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, in Yerevan today.
“We have more than once said that we are ready to continue the talks
based on the mediators’ proposal. If Azerbaijan agrees to return to
the talks we will have a chance to start a new negotiation stage,”
Vardan Oskanyan said. “It will be a pity to lose a proposal which
has been the outcome of long negotiations.” At the same time, Vardan
Oskanyan said: “If Baku turns down this proposal this will complicate
the situation.”
The Armenian foreign minister recalled that in recent years Azerbaijan
had declined two proposals of the mediators – the proposal of a
“common state” and the settlement formula discussed by the presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Key West in 2001.
Commenting on whether Matthew Bryza would put forward new ideas,
Vardan Oskanyan said that “new ideas do not emerge out of the blue”. He
admitted that the US mediator might propose some new formulas regarding
nuances in the framework agreement, noting at the same time that he
did not expect issues concerning the fundamental principles of the
peace agreement to be changed.

ANU chess team in championships
Canberra Times – Australasia; Jul 25, 2006
THE Australian National University (ANU) chess team has taken out
second place in the team event at the first ever Uni Rapid Chess
Championships held at Sydney University.The ANU team, Zheng Bo Wang,
Jeremy Reading, Shannon Oliver, Gareth Oliver, and Michael Harrison-
Ford, competed against 26 students from The University of New South
Wales, University of Sydney, Macquarie University and The University
of Technology.
ANU team member Gareth Oliver, also gained third place in the
individual event.
ANU Chess Club president Shannon Oliver said the ANU team would return
to compete again next year.
“Everyone was pretty happy with the result,” Miss Oliver said.
She will compete in the World Under 20s Chess Tournament, to be held
in Armenia, in October.
She has been playing chess for 11 years and is also a member of the
Belconnen Chess Club.
The ANU team was beaten only by Sydney University who dominated the
championships with both the greatest number of participants and the
strongest players, including international master Zong-Yuan Zhao.

Armenian defence minister hails NATO drill as very fruitful
Arminfo
24 Jul 06
Yerevan, 24 July: “We assess the exercise as very fruitful since the
main task, namely coordination of joint efforts to eliminate the
aftermath of disasters, has been fulfilled,” the secretary of the
Security Council under the Armenian president and defence minister,
Serzh Sarkisyan, told a session at the Aviation Institute in Yerevan
today summarizing the results of an exercise.
This year the exercise was aimed at practising rapid reaction of
the joint staff of the armed forces of all participating countries,
which was achieved, he said.
The command-and-staff exercise with the participation of 300 servicemen
and experts from 11 countries – Armenia, the USA, Albania, Austria,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Romania, Tajikistan and
Ukraine – was organized with the help of the US European Command as
part of NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme.
Armenia was represented at the exercise by the Defence Ministry and
the Rescue Service. Foreign experts participating in the exercise
described as excellent the level of their organization and high
professionalism of Armenian rescuers.
The commander of the Kansas National Guard, Gen Tod M. Bunting,
noted that he was satisfied with the exercise, especially noting the
favourable conditions created for it.
“I am confident that the skills acquired by our servicemen during
the exercise will be necessary in dealing with emergencies,” he said.

Armenian defence chief, US general discuss ties
Arminfo
24 Jul 06
Yerevan, 24 July: The secretary of the Armenian national security
council under the president and defence minister, Serzh Sarkisyan,
today met a delegation led by Maj-Gen Tod M. Bunting, the Adjutant
General of Kansas.
The US ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, also attended the meeting,
the press service of the Defence Ministry told Arminfo. They discussed
the Armenian-US military cooperation, peacekeeping and military
medicine as well.
[Passage omitted: Bunting hailed Armenian peacekeepers in Iraq]

BARGAVACH HAYASTAN’S PATIENCE IS NOT WEARING THIN
Lragir.am
25 July 06
Two days after the conference of the Republican Party Bargavach
Hayastan Party (Prosperous Armenia) held a meeting of its activists
July 25 at the Gabriel Sundukyan Theater. That this conference
was a counterblow to the Republican is proved by the fact that
the conference was not open. The mass media were not invited, the
entrance was guarded, and people could enter if they had membership
cards. Thus the meeting appears more mysterious and consequently
more influential. Namely, the people gathered at the hall were
furious about the expressions of Republicans addressed to them. The
Republicans do not consider Bargavach Hayastan a political party.
Moreover, they compare this political party with a trade company,
which does not have an ideology. The activists of Bargavach Hayastan
expected a rather tough answer from the leader of the party. The
Lragir has learned that Gagik Tsarukyan gave this rather tough answer
saying that the time would come and they would give a more clear and
adequate answer to statements in their addresses. It is interesting
that on the day of the meeting of activists broadcasting of Kentron
TV, which was to televise this meeting, was stopped.

KAREN KARAPETYAN MAY LEAVE REPUBLICAN PARTY
Lragir.am
25 July 06
The Lragir has learned that Member of Parliament Karen Karapetyan,
the leader of the People’s Deputy Group, who joined the Republican
Party on these days, may soon quit the party. The point is that the
membership of the member of parliament to the Republican Party was
very sudden. Our source says Karen Karapetyan was not happy about
membership and he agreed only because there was a hasty situation. It
is notable that Karen Karapetyan was not present at the conference
of the Republican Party because he was not in Armenia. It is also
notable that he was elected chair of one of the party committees in his
absence. Perhaps they tried to bind Karen Karapetyan to additional
responsibility. However, as our source informs, the problem is
that in Russia they are against Karen Karapetyan’s membership. Our
source mentions that Russia does not approve the consolidation of
the administrative-criminal resource. It may seem at first sight that
it can have nothing to do with Karen Karapetyan. It should be taken
into account, however, that Karapetyan’s brother runs a rather big
business in Russia, and in this context this factor would affect his
brother’s engagement in home political developments in Armenia.

CATHOLICOS ASKS TO GIVE HIM SOME TIME
Lragir.am
25 July 06
Over the past week the Haykakan Zhamanak wrote two or three times
that the leader of one of the political parties of Armenia used to be
a pickpocket and was referred to with the nickname Pickpocket Sashik
of the Platform, and besides his main occupation he also sold erotic
video films, which were prohibited in the Soviet Union. The Haykakan
Zhamanak writes that presently the same figure is referred to with
a name and surname and is known to have been awarded a medal by the
Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin B.
The Lragir has learned that the latter fact worried some
representatives of the Armenian intelligentsia who have also been
awarded by the Catholicos. They announced to the Catholicos that they
want to return the medals. Our source says the catholicos asked to
give him some time to settle the problem, and promised to consult
the intelligentsia before awarding medals.

DUAL POWER EMERGED INSIDE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, SAYS THE EXPERT OF ELECTION SYSTEMS
Lragir.am
25 July 06
The expert of Election Systems Center Arthur Aftandilyan comments
on the results of the conference of the Republican Party for
Exclusive.am. “The election of Serge Sargsyan as chair of the Council
of the Republican Party led to a political and structural dual power
(conflict of powers). If you read the powers of the council and the
leader of the party in the bylaws of the Republican Party, you will
see the conflict of powers. The essense of the political dual power
is that Serge Sargsyan entered the leadership of the Republican Party
with his team, which is different from the old team and accepts only
one leader. This duality will manifest itself in further developments
inside the political party and internal competition. Will it hinder
or favor the pre-election campaign? It will become clear this fall.
Nevertheless, the recent developments connected with the Republican
Party spur the development of the system of political parties in
Armenia. I think it is the turn of the opposition. If they manage
to establish an equal alliance and choose a correct strategy, we all
will benefit.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress