THE USA DOES NOT WANT TO SEE ARMENIA ISOLATED

Regnum, Russia
Dec 25 2006

US policy in South Caucasus is aimed at promoting regional
cooperation and normalization of relations instead of isolation, says
a statement by US congressmen, co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus
on Armenian Issues Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, addressed to
the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA). Earlier, the US president
approved a bill banning state financing of the construction of the
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railroad. Earlier, the bill was passed
by the House of Representatives, and then by the Senate. "We call
upon Turkey to revise the policy of alienating Armenia, put an end
to the 13-year-old blockade and take actions directed at cooperation
with its neighbors," the statement says.

The document contains an amendment proposed by Senators Robert Menendez
and Rick Santorini, which rules out financing by the Export-Import Bank
of the construction of the railway that would isolate Armenia from the
economic and regional transport corridor with average estimated cost
of $400 mln. Adoption of the amendment is part of the AAA lobbying
directed against isolation of Armenia.

In his turn, AAA Executive Director Bryan Ardouny highly appreciated
the role of the senators and congressmen in "implementing this
important initiative," namely in fighting Turkey and Azerbaijan’s
attempts to isolate Armenia. The initiative is one of numerous measures
to secure safety and wealth of Armenia. He expressed gratitude to
organizations and persons, who combined their effort with the Armenian
Diaspora of the United States. The Armenian Assembly of America
welcomed inaction of the bill banning financing of the railroad
joining Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia bypassing Armenia.