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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
ASSEMBLY CALLS ON HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE TO CONTINUE ECONOMIC, SECURITY
ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA, KARABAKH
Washington, DC – Recounting the longstanding and growing friendship
between Armenia and the United States and noting Armenia’s progress
in economic development and poverty reduction, the Armenian Assembly
praised a key House Subcommittee’s support for continued funding to
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. The Assembly said that such assistance
has helped both countries move forward as independent, market-reformed
and democratic states.
In testimony submitted last week before the House Foreign Operations
Appropriations Subcommittee, Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny
said U.S. policy in the South Caucasus should continue to focus on
ensuring open borders and commercial corridors as well as conflict
resolution. Ardouny stressed that “U.S. security interests depend
now more than ever on Turkey and Azerbaijan lifting their blockades
against Armenia.”
The Assembly urged the Subcommittee to maintain U.S. assistance
to Armenian in FY 2006 “at a level of ‘not less than’ $75
million.” Ardouny explained the detrimental effects of the border
blockades and said that according to the World Bank, “the lifting
of the blockades could reduce Armenia’s transport costs by 30 to 50
percent; increase the Gross Domestic Product by over 30 percent and
double exports.”
Ardouny also noted that the U.S.-Armenia military relationship
continues to strengthen as evidenced by its ongoing assistance and
cooperation with the U.S. Department of Defense. He added that
the Assembly supports the Administration’s request of $5 million in
Foreign Military Financing and $750,000 in International Military
Education Training assistance.
The Assembly also praised the vision and leadership of the Subcommittee
for its continued support for humanitarian assistance to Nagorno
Karabakh and requested that $5 million be again allocated to that
country next year.
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.
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NR#2005-035
Editor’s Note: Attached is the full text of Assembly Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny’s testimony submitted before the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related
Programs on April 13, 2005.
Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Lowey and distinguished Members of the
Subcommittee: The Armenian Assembly of America is pleased to submit
testimony regarding U.S. assistance and policy in the Caucasus
generally and Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh specifically.
Founded in 1972, the Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based
organization, promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. We represent Armenian-Americans and those who share our goals.
The Assembly’s extensive experience in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh,
working closely with key government agencies and officials, has
provided us with unique insight on how U.S. assistance can best
advance U.S. policy goals in the region. Given the challenges facing
the United States following the tragic events of September 11th,
we must redouble our efforts in the Caucasus and Caspian regions in
order to strike the appropriate balance between the need to ensure
U.S. security with the long-standing U.S. objectives of establishing
democracy, the rule of law, open economies and civil society.
As such, U.S. policy in the South Caucasus should continue to focus
on conflict resolution and on ensuring open borders and commercial
corridors. U.S. security interests depend now more than ever on Turkey
and Azerbaijan lifting their blockades of Armenia. Turkey should
heed calls made by President Bush and other U.S. officials to open
the border with Armenia.
Recommendations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006
1. Economic Assistance to Armenia
The Assembly urges the Subcommittee to maintain U.S. assistance to
Armenia in FY 2006 at a level of “not less than $75 million.”
According to the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, Armenia
“is on the right track along several important vectors,” particularly
in terms of economic development and poverty reduction. Maintaining
significant assistance to Armenia is essential in order for its
people to secure the most basic standard of living in the face of
the ongoing Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades. According to the Word
Bank, the lifting of the blockades could reduce Armenia’s transport
costs by 30 to 50 percent; increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
by over 30 percent and double exports.1 These findings were included
in the Economic Impact of the Turkish/Armenian Border Closure and on
Diplomatic Contacts with Both Parties on This Issue report that was
published two years ago by the State Department.
As a landlocked nation, nearly 85 percent of all goods transported to
and from Armenia had previously traversed Azerbaijan. The entire
population of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh has been affected.
In addition to defying U.S. law, the Azerbaijani blockade is in
violation of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
(OSCE) mandates calling for the re-opening of closed borders.
The blockade has cut off the transport of food, fuel, medicine and all
other commodities via traditional transport to and from the states
of the Former Soviet Union (FSU). The Assembly urges Congress to
call upon Turkey and Azerbaijan to immediately cease their blockades.
In spite of the dual blockades, Armenia’s economic reform measures are
progressing, as demonstrated by the Wall Street Journal and Heritage
Foundation’s “2005 Index of Economic Freedom.” The index, which
measured how more than 160 countries scored on a list of 50 independent
variables divided into ten broad factors of economic freedom, rated
Armenia 42nd. According to the study, Armenia remains the most
economically free nation in the region, including all nations in the
Commonwealth of Independent States. As a result of these reforms
Armenia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by over 10 percent
in 2004, capping the fourth consecutive year of double-digit growth.
2. U.S. Military Assistance to Armenia
The Assembly supports the Administration’s FY 2006 Budget Request of
$5 million in Foreign Military Financing and $750,000 in International
Military Education Training assistance.
We appreciate and commend the Subcommittee efforts with respect to
U.S. military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan in the FY 2005
Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. It is essential that the
spirit and intent of the conditional waiver of Section 907 of the
FREEDOM Support Act be maintained to ensure that Azerbaijan does
not use any additional assistance against the people of Armenia or
Nagorno Karabakh.
As you know, the U.S.-Armenia military relationship continues
to strengthen as is evidenced by Armenia’s decision to send a
peace-keeping contingent to Iraq and its ongoing assistance and
cooperation with the U.S. Department of Defense. In fact, during
his second visit in less than a year to Armenia last month, General
Charles Wald, Deputy Commander of the U.S. forces in Europe, noted
that “great progress” has already been achieved and that his talks
with President Robert Kocharian and Defense Minister Serge Sargsian
focused on developing U.S.-Armenia defense relations, particularly
measures against international terrorists.
Armenia is also an active NATO partner. In 2003, high-ranking
NATO officials praised Armenia as “the most improved nation” in
terms of dynamics of partnership and cooperation. Most Armenia-NATO
activities fall under the NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) program.
To demonstrate its continued and growing commitment to NATO, Armenia
appointed an Ambassador and a Military Representative specifically
to the alliance in 2004.
The Assembly strongly believes that it is in the U.S. national interest
to build upon this important area of cooperation with Armenia and we
look forward to working with you and members of the Subcommittee to
further expand U.S.-Armenia military relations.
3. Assistance to Nagorno Karabakh
The Assembly commends the vision and leadership of the Subcommittee for
its continued support for humanitarian assistance to Nagorno Karabakh.
We request that the Subcommittee include language directing USAID to
allocate $5 million for Karabakh in FY 2006.
Having won a war initiated by Azerbaijan and fought in their
homeland, the people of Nagorno Karabakh have suffered greatly –
from substantial loss of life to villages, homes and farmland that
were completely destroyed. Given the great humanitarian crisis in
Karabakh, Congress provided much-needed assistance. The Assembly
commends the vision and leadership of this Subcommittee in helping
the people of Karabakh rebuild from the devastating effects of the war.
While progress has been made in Karabakh, there are still many
compelling humanitarian and development needs required to make Nagorno
Karabakh whole and restore its pre-war conditions. Many healthcare,
education, irrigation and other needs have yet to be addressed.
Therefore, the Assembly strongly urges the Subcommittee to ensure
that additional funding be provided.
4. Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act
The Assembly urges the Subcommittee to continue to vigorously
monitor the conditional waiver of Section 907 to ensure the safety of
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh and to call on the President to submit
to Congress the report that is required by law within 60 days of
enacting the waiver. Should Armenia’s or Nagorno Karabakh’s safety be
compromised or the Karabakh peace process hindered as a result of any
assistance provided to Azerbaijan, the Assembly asks the Subcommittee
to immediately terminate the waiver.
As the Subcommittee is aware, during the early 1990s, the Government
of Azerbaijan launched a military campaign against the Armenians
of Karabakh. This aggression included a large-scale deployment of
mujaheddin fighters from Afghanistan. An Al Qaeda member told Western
journalists that Osama Bin Laden himself “twice led men in battle
in Azerbaijan.” In response to Azerbaijan’s aggression toward and
blockade of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, Section 907 was enacted
with the overwhelming support of Congress and with the support of
the Administration in 1992.
As you know, a cease-fire in the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh was
established in 1994 and sensitive peace negotiations to achieve a
final agreement are ongoing. However, the government of Azerbaijan
continues to make bellicose claims and threaten war against Armenia
and Karabakh. This war rhetoric has continued unabated, and, in fact,
has intensified in the past year.
Given the renewed public calls by Azerbaijani leaders for another
military offensive and the ongoing Azerbaijani blockades, the
Assembly urges the Subcommittee to closely monitor the developments
in Azerbaijan as it pertains to U.S. assistance and the conditional
waiver to ensure the safety and security of the Armenian people.
5. Peace Process (the Nagorno Karabakh conflict)
The Assembly commends this Subcommittee’s efforts to bring about a
peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and for providing
funding for regional projects and confidence-building measures.
As the Assembly has noted in prior years, Armenia has consistently
demonstrated its desire for regional cooperation and normal relations
with its neighbors, yet Azerbaijan and Turkey continue to reject
Armenia’s overtures. Armenia has repeatedly made proposals to foster
regional cooperation with Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, Azerbaijan
refused to consider these proposals. Moreover, Azerbaijan, while
joining regional transportation initiatives, such as Transport
Corridor Europe Caucasus and Asia, has enunciated one reservation:
“The Republic of Azerbaijan declares that none of the rights,
obligations and provisions set out…shall be applied by the Republic
of Azerbaijan in respect of transport passing across its territory
for which the territory of the Republic of Armenia is an originating,
transit or destination territory.”
Given these circumstances, the Assembly urges this Subcommittee
and Congress to redouble its efforts in the Nagorno Karabakh peace
process to help facilitate peace in the region; ensure open borders
and commercial corridors for all countries in the Caucasus; and,
undertake measures to avert an arms race there.
6. Conclusion
Mr. Chairman, on behalf of the Armenian-American community, I would
like to express our deep and sincere gratitude to Congress for its
steadfast support of U.S. assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
Armenian-Americans remember the support the United States gave during
Karabakh’s struggle throughout the Soviet era and America’s proud
World War I record of intervention during the Armenian Genocide.
U.S. assistance has saved hundreds of thousands of lives and allowed
Armenia to move forward with important reforms. Such assistance also
reflects the strong ties between Armenians and Americans. The enduring
and natural bonds that exist between the United States and Armenia
are readily apparent in Armenia’s ongoing support for America.
As President Bush recently noted “the United States greatly values
the contributions that Armenians make to our national life…[and]
is also deeply grateful for Armenia’s swift and decisive cooperation
in the war against terrorism.”
A centuries-old Christian country, Armenia stands at the crossroads
of Europe and Asia and on the front lines in the new war against
terrorism. Armenians in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh look to the
United States as the leader of the western world and a beacon of hope
in defense of freedom and self-determination. They stand ready to
help America ensure that the evils of terrorism are eliminated and
that democracy can flourish.
The Assembly greatly appreciates your attention to these very important
matters and looks forward to working with the distinguished Members
of the Subcommittee in the coming months.
Thank you.
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