House members urge Bush to raise Armenian blockade issue

08.06.2005 14:41

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – In the days leading up to Wednesday’s meeting
between Pres. Bush and Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
members of the US House of Representatives raised serious concerns
about Turkey’s 12-year blockade of Armenia, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA.)

In a June 3rd letter, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) were joined by Reps.
Adam Schiff (D-CA) and George Radanovich (R-CA) in urging Pres.
Bush and Secretary of State Rice to “again call upon Turkey to
comply with your Administration’s long-standing position that in
order to restore economic, political, and cultural links with
Armenia, Turkey should immediately lift its ongoing blockade with
Armenia.”

The House members detailed the high cost of Turkey’s blockade on
Armenia’s struggling economy. “A recent State Department report
estimated that the blockade is inflating Armenia’s transportation
costs by 30-35%, thereby stifling its trade and economy,” noted the
letter. “This report also stated that opening the border would
catalyze commercial opportunities for Turkey and Armenia in the
fields of energy, trade and tourism, valued at $1 billion per
year.”