Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
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PRESS RELEASE
January 19, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
SENATOR ALLEN RAISES COMMUNITY CONCERNS WITH SECRETARY OF STATE
NOMINEE RICE
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly commended longtime Armenian
issues supporter Senator George Allen (R-VA) today for raising several
key community concerns, ranging from U.S. assistance to Armenia to
regional stability in the Caucasus, with Secretary of State-designate
Condoleezza Rice during her Senate confirmation hearing.
Allen, as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing
testimony from Rice, told the Assembly that a series of questions were
submitted for the record and that he is looking forward to receiving
Rice’s response, pending her Senate approval.
“We thank Senator Allen for taking the initiative to raise several
pertinent community issues with Dr. Rice on the occasion of her
confirmation hearing and join him in awaiting her answers,” said
Executive Director Ross Vartian.
Allen’s questions highlighted the following subjects: asymmetrical
military assistance to Azerbaijan and Armenia in Fiscal Year 2005,
Azerbaijan’s continuing threats against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh,
regional security and the Turkish border blockade and the Armenian
Genocide.
The Senator also submitted three questions on the Administration’s FY
2005 budget request to Congress last year requesting $8.75 million in
military assistance to Azerbaijan and only $2.75 million for Armenia.
Allen initially raised the disparity issue last March during a Foreign
Relations Committee hearing and again last July during the nomination
hearing for Ambassador John Evans, explaining that such a difference
would undermine progress between the neighboring countries. By the
end of the year, Congress ultimately voted to provide equal levels of
military assistance ($8.75 million) to both countries.
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#2005-006
Photograph available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following link:
CAPTION: Senator George Allen (R-VA)