SENATORS SARBANES AND BOXER QUESTION US AMBASSADOR DESIGNATE TO AZERBAIJAN

ArmRadio.am
18.05.2006 14:30

US Ambassador Designate to Azerbaijan Anne Derse responded to questions
by Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Paul Sarbanes on a series
of US 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).

In response to a question by Senator Sarbanes expressing concern about
the Bush Administration’s Fiscal Year 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.”

In response to Senator 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.

Derse noted that “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.”