Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: info@aaainc.org
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
December 12, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: ckojoian@aaainc.org

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY INITIATIVE TO BECOME LAW

U.S. Counters Turkish Attempt to Isolate Armenia

Washington, DC – Longtime Armenian issues leader Senator Robert Menendez
(D-NJ) last week hailed the unanimous passage of legislation that
included a provision to prevent U.S. financing of a nearly $800 million
railway project benefiting Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgian while
deliberately excluding Armenia.

"I am pleased that this legislation has passed the House and includes an
identical amendment to the one I passed in the Senate on a railroad in
the Caucasus," Menendez told the Assembly. The amendment, which
Menendez introduced along with Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), was adopted
by the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee in September.

"I believe that we cannot continue to stoke the embers of regional
conflict by supporting projects that deliberately exclude one of the
region’s most important members," Menendez continued. "Fundamentally,
these amendments are about fairness and about inclusion, rather than
exclusion. With these amendments, we have sent a simple message — that
we believe that the United States should support an integrated and
inclusive approach to economic and regional development in the Caucasus
region. I hope to see this enacted into law in the future."

"We commend Senator Menendez for ensuring that this critical provision
was approved by Congress," said Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman
Hirair Hovnanian. "Attempts to exclude or isolate Armenia will not go
unanswered. The Armenian Assembly has a proud record of working to
ensure a secure, prosperous and democratic Armenia."

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.

NR#2006-109