ASSEMBLY HAILS HOUSE PASSAGE OF BILL PROHIBITING FUNDS FOR RAIL BYPASS OF ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
07.12.2006 10:40

The Armenian Assembly praised the House of Representatives for
the unanimous passage of a bill affirming US policy in the South
Caucasus by prohibiting funding for a railroad, sponsored by Turkey
and Azerbaijan, which excludes Armenia from economic and regional
transportation corridors.

The bill will now go to President Bush for his expected signature.

Lawmakers approved S.3938, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act
of 2006, which included an amendment by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
and Rick Santorum (R-PA) ensuring that no Export-Import funding is
used for a rail line connecting Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan while
circumventing Armenia. The provision was similar to an amendment
offered in the House version by Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY),
along with Congressmen Edward Royce (R-CA) and Brad Sherman (D-CA),
which was unanimously approved by the House Financial Services
Committee in July.

"Well aware that Turkey and Azerbaijan continue to make every effort
possible to isolate Armenia from economic and regional opportunities,
passage of today’s legislation was key to the Assembly’s legislative
agenda," said Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. "We thank
Senators Menendez and Santorum for their steadfast support of
Armenia and for introducing legislation (S. 2461) that would prevent
U.S. taxpayers from funding this project."

Hovnanian noted that despite congressional intent to prevent Armenia’s
isolation and an European Union declaration that it "will not finance
the Kars-Akhalkalak railway construction since the project leaves
out Armenia [which] conflicts with the European Neighborhood Policy,"
Turkey and Azerbaijan plan to proceed with the project.

"As a proud member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and
representative of a large and vibrant Armenian community of Armenians,
I want to thank my colleagues Joe Crowley and Ed Royce for their hard
work on this issue," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), ranking member
of the Joint Economic Committee, in a statement on the House floor.

"Allowing the exclusion of Armenia from important transportation routes
would stymie the emergence of this region as an important East-West
trade corridor," she continued. "It is in our economic and security
interest to ensure that we do not support the historic aggression
between Turkey and Armenia."

Following Maloney, Crowley, referring to Armenia as "a great US ally,"
noted that both the Senate and House versions of the bill included
language pertaining to Armenia, which he spearheaded in the House.

"This language will assist in promoting stability in the Caucasus
region, help in ending long standing conflict, and save US taxpayers
the responsibility of funding a project that goes against US
interests," said Crowley, a Member of the Armenian Caucus. "For
over 10 years, Armenia has fought a blockade, imposed on them by the
countries of Turkey and Azerbaijan. These two countries continually
exclude Armenia from regional development."

Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), thanked his
colleagues for "putting a stop to [Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s] policy
of isolating Armenia. It is not good for Armenia, not good for the
Caucasus nations, and ultimately not good for the United States."

"If this policy of isolating Armenia continues it would only lead
to another war," Pallone warned, pointing out that Armenia’s dual
blockades coupled with Azerbaijan’s belligerence could lead to regional
strife. He noted that it has been U.S. policy to encourage regional
integration and that "the idea to build a railroad that would cut off
Armenia, which has been suggested by Azerbaijan and Turkey, would be
contrary to the policy [which] this Congress, under both Democratic
and Republican leadership, has had for the last 20 years."

"Let’s continue the policy of cooperation in bringing these countries
together for the common good," Pallone urged. He also added that an
existing rail line, that connects Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan,
could be operational with minimal cost.

Executive Director Bryan Ardouny thanked Representatives Maloney,
Crowley and Pallone for their statements of support today and their
work to prevent attempts to isolate Armenia. He also commended
Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Armenian Caucus
Members Sherman and Royce, and the Chairmen and Ranking Members of
the House Financial Services and Senate Banking Committees for pushing
the legislation through.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress