Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: anca@anca.org
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
May 17, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
SENATORS SARBANES AND BOXER QUESTION U.S. AMBASSADOR DESIGNATE TO
AZERBAIJAN ON DESTRUCTION OF HISTORIC DJULFA CEMETERY; MISGUIDED
EFFORT TO BREAK MILITARY AID PARITY
— Ambassador Designate Anne Derse Pledges No U.S. Financial
Support for Railway Bypassing Armenia; Defends Administration Call
to Break Military Aid Parity
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Ambassador Designate to Azerbaijan Anne Derse
responded to questions by Senate Foreign Relations Committee member
Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), today, on a series of U.S. policy concerns
focusing on Azerbaijan’s belligerent attitude toward Armenia and
Nagorno Karabagh, as well as the Administration’s budget request,
which would break military assistance parity to Armenia and
Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA). Senators Sarbanes and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) had submitted
the questions during the May 12th Senate Foreign Relations Committee
confirmation hearing, led by Chairman Richard Lugar (R-IN).
In response to a question by Sen. Sarbanes expressing concern about
the Bush Administration’s FY 2007 budget request which would
provide over 40% more military assistance to Azerbaijan than
Armenia, Ambassador Designate Derse defended the decision, stating
that “we do not believe that the slight differences in military
assistance . . . undermine prospects for peace or send the wrong
message.”
Derse was echoing a similar response by Secretary of State
Condoleeza Rice, again to a question by Sen. Sarbanes at a Senate
hearing in February 2006. Secretary Rice had noted that “the minor
increase in FMF [Foreign Military Finance] for Azerbaijan as
proposed in the President’s budget request in January does not
signal any change in the U.S. position on Nagorno-Karabakh.”
Sen. Boxer specifically questioned Derse about the U.S. response to
the Azerbaijani destruction of the historic Armenian cemetery of
Djulfa in the Azerbaijani controlled region of Nakhichevan.
Azerbaijani soldiers decimated the cemetery, which included
thousands of cross-stone carvings, known as “khatchkars,” in
December 2005. The ANCA had urged U.S. Ambassador Reno Harnish to
visit the site and investigate the demolition. Sen. Boxer asked if
Derse would “visit the cemetery site and commit yourself to
investigating the demolition of this unique cemetery.” Derse has
yet to submit a response to Senator Boxer’s inquiries.
“We would like to thank Senators Sarbanes and Boxer for raising key
concerns about the destruction of Djulfa and military parity
agreement with Ambassador Designate Derse,” stated ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian. “We remain troubled by the
Administration’s retreat from its 2001 agreement to maintain
military aid parity and are hopeful the Congressional appropriators
will honor this agreement to ensure military aid balance to the
region.” The House Foreign Operations Subcommittee is set to
discuss the issue during their mark-up of the FY 2007 foreign aid
bill scheduled for this Friday, May 19th.
In response to Sen. Sarbanes’ question on efforts toward regional
economic integration in the Caucasus, Derse noted that the “opening
of the border between Turkey and Armenia would contribute to the
economies of both countries,” but made no reference to the 18-year
Azerbaijani blockade of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. Derse did,
however, make specific mention of recent efforts to build a railway
line connecting Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan, stating “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.” Legislation restricting U.S. aid to
the railway project due to the exclusion of Armenia has been
introduced by Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Robert Menendez (D-
NJ) and has the support of Senate Deputy Majority Whip Wayne Allard
(R-CO). Similar legislation in the House has been introduce by
Reps. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and George
Radanovich (R-CA) and currently has 82 cosponsors.
In her response, Derse reiterated the State Department’s support
for “the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan” and noted, “the
future status of Nagorno Karabakh is a matter of negotiations
between the parties.” She stressed that both the presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been forewarned that “any attempt at a
military solution to the conflict would only deepen its tragic
impact.”
During the hearing, Chairman Lugar, who has visited the Caucasus
and met with former Azerbaijani President Geydar Aliyev, expressed
concerns about democracy in Azerbaijan and transparency associated
with the large influx of oil-wealth into that country. Derse
responded that “promotion of democracy, freedom and human rights is
indeed a top priority in our relationship with Azerbaijan,” and
went on to express a commitment to “working to promote transparent
and accountable government, an independent judiciary and parliament
— promotion of basic freedoms, including religious freedom and
freedom of assembly.”
Anne Derse is a Foreign Service Officer with more than a quarter
century of experience. She most recently served as Director for
Biodefense Policy at the Homeland Security Council. Her prior
postings have included service as Minister Counselor for Economic
Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq and at the U.S. Mission to the
European Union. Ms. Derse also has held posts in the Philippines,
South Korea, Belgium, and Singapore, among other locations.
The complete text of Sen. Sarbanes’ questions and Derse’s responses
are provided below.
#####
Questions for the Record Submitted to
Ambassador-Designate Anne Derse
By Senator Paul Sarbanes
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
May 12, 2006
Question:
What steps will you take in response to President Aliyev’s
increasingly belligerent rhetoric and actions, such as his threats
to restart the war against Nagorno-Karabakh, his call for a return
of Nagorno-Karabakh “no matter what it takes,” and his proposals
for vast increases in military spending? What impact do you
believe such actions will have on the prospects for a negotiated
settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh?
Answer:
We support the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and hold that
the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh is a matter of negotiation
between the parties. Despite promising indications at present,
both Armenia and Azerbaijan have much to do to prepare their
publics for the compromises any just agreement will entail. We
have told the presidents of both countries that any attempt at a
military solution to the conflict would only deepen its tragic
impact.
Although the Rambouillet meeting between the two presidents marked
a temporary stall in negotiations, the process has gained momentum
again with a series of individual visits by the Minsk Group Co-
Chairs to the region. An agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh is within
the grasp of the two presidents now. We believe that 2006 is the
best window of opportunity for Presidents Aliyev and Kocharian to
come to a mutually agreeable solution that will provide the basis
for a lasting peace between their two countries. This will require
acts of political courage by each president as they prepare their
respective publics for a peace settlement. We hope the presidents
will seize the opportunity to reach a peaceful settlement of the
conflict soon so that the important work of post-conflict
reconstruction and stabilization can begin.
If confirmed, I plan to continue to work toward a settlement, along
with my colleagues at the Department of State.
========================================== =======================
Question:
Despite U.S. and international calls for regional cooperation and
economic integration, Turkey and Azerbaijan continue their illegal
decade-long blockade of land-locked Armenia. Azerbaijan and Turkey
are now escalating this policy of isolation by planning to build a
railroad line to connect Turkey and Azerbaijan, excluding Armenia.
There is currently legislation pending that would prevent any U.S.
financing of the approximately $800 million venture. Do you intend
to raise concerns about the railway? What steps will you take to
end Azerbaijan’s blockade of Armenia?
Answer:
The U.S. Government strongly encourages regional integration in the
Caucasus. Removing trade barriers would improve regional
integration and enhance economic cooperation and development within
and beyond the region. Regional integration should, of course,
include all countries of the region. We have long believed that
opening the border between Turkey and Armenia would contribute to
the economies of both countries and to such important broader areas
as energy security for Europe and Eurasia.
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. If confirmed, I will strongly support
the Administration’s efforts to pursue regional integration for all
countries in the region.
========================================= ========================
Question:
In the aftermath of September 11th, Congress granted the President
limited and conditional authority to waive Section 907 of the
Freedom Support Act, with the understanding that the administration
would ensure military parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
However, in this year’s budget, the President requested over $1
million more in military aid for Azerbaijan than for Armenia. On
what basis has the administration decided to depart from its
previous commitment to provide equal amounts of military assistance
for Armenia and Azerbaijan?
Answer:
It is U.S. policy to ensure that our security assistance to Armenia
and Azerbaijan does not affect the military balance between the two
states, but it is not the Administration’s view that military
funding levels for Armenia and Azerbaijan should be identical. As
Secretary Rice said recently in testimony before the House Foreign
Operations Subcommittee on Appropriations, we believe slight
differences in military assistance can be tolerated between Armenia
and Azerbaijan. The waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support
Act every year since 2002 has allowed us to provide military
assistance that enhances Azerbaijan’s interoperability with NATO
and U.S. forces and furthers U.S. peacekeeping objectives, as well
as assistance aimed at advancing democratic and market economic
reform. Assistance to Armenia for similar purposes requires no
waiver.
As a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, our goal is to help Armenia
and Azerbaijan achieve a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-
Karabakh conflict. Military assistance to both countries in light
of that ongoing conflict is carefully considered and calibrated to
ensure that it does not hamper ongoing efforts to negotiate a
peaceful settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Progress is being made in the negotiation process and we continue
to view 2006 as the best window for the sides to reach an
agreement. At the same time, we are strongly urging the presidents
to prepare their publics for peace. We do not believe that the
slight differences in military assistance in the FY 2007 budget
request undermine prospects for peace or send the wrong message.
======================================== =========================
Question:
Do you believe that Azerbaijan deserved to be elected to the UN
Human Rights Council? How did the U.S. vote on Azerbaijan’s
candidacy? What steps will you take to improve respect for human
rights in Azerbaijan?
Answer:
The vote of the United States on these issues is always
confidential. We stand ready to work with all the new members of
the UN Human Rights Council. We will urge Azerbaijan will use this
opportunity to fulfill its commitments to make real progress on
advancing democracy and improve fundamental respect for human
rights both domestically and throughout the world. If confirmed, I
will continue to urge the Government of Azerbaijan to fulfill its
own human rights commitments, and will look for opportunities to
advance this effort through diplomacy, programs, and other
measures.