SENATE AND HOUSE HEARINGS TO FOCUS ON ARMENIA AND CAUCASUS REGION

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.06.2008 14:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The focus of two key Congressional committees will
turn to the Caucasus region next week as Senate Foreign Relations
Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee members will, in an
exercise of their oversight responsibilities, have the opportunity to
question State Department officials on U.S. policy regarding Armenia
and the surrounding area, the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) told PanARMENIAN.Net.

Assistant Secretary of State for Europe Dan Fried will testify before
the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday June 18th at 10:00am
EDT regarding U.S.

policy toward the Caucasus region. Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) and
his fellow Committee members will be focusing on a wide range of issues
including the ongoing blockade of Armenia, U.S. policy on the Armenian
Genocide, and foreign aid. Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Nabi Sensoy
recently denied the existence of a Turkish blockade, arguing that
there are many Armenians who serve as "nannies" to Turkish children.

The World Bank estimates that Turkey and Azerbaijan’s blockades of
Armenia reduce Armenia’s GDP by up to 38% annually.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), along with Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA)
and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) recently introduced the "End the Turkish
Blockade of Armenia" Bill (H.R. 6079), which calls upon Turkey to
end its blockade of Armenia and asks the U.S. Department of State to
report on its efforts towards this end.

On Thursday, June 19th, at 2:15pm, the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee is slated to hold a confirmation hearing for U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia nominee Marie Yovanovitch.

On March 28, 2008, Pres. Bush nominated Amb. Marie L.

Yovanovitch to serve as America’s next Ambassador to Armenia. The
ANCA has spoken to Committee members about the value of carefully
questioning Amb. Yovanovitch on the many issues she will face as the
U.S. envoy in Yerevan, among them the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, Turkey and Azerbaijan’s ongoing blockades of Armenia, and
the need for a balanced U.S. role in helping forge a democratic and
peaceful resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. These efforts
have been supported by extensive on-line outreach and a national
postcard campaign to key Senate Foreign Relations Committee members.

President Bush’s previous nominee as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia,
Richard Hoagland, was subject to two legislative holds by Sen. Bob
Menendez (D-NJ) and was ultimately withdrawn by the Administration,
following the nominee’s statements denying the Armenian Genocide.

The last U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, was fired by
President Bush for speaking honestly about the Armenian Genocide. The
ANCA led the Armenian American community campaign opposing Hoagland’s
nomination, stating that a genocide denier could not serve as a
credible and effective U.S.

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From: Sebouh Z Tashjian <sebouhz_tashjian@yahoo.com.au>
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PanARMENIAN.Net

Senate and House hearings to focus on Armenia and
Caucasus Region
11.06.2008 14:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The focus of two key Congressional
committees will turn to the Caucasus region next week
as Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House
Foreign Affairs Committee members will, in an exercise
of their oversight responsibilities, have the
opportunity to question State Department officials on
U.S. policy regarding Armenia and the surrounding
area, the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) told PanARMENIAN.Net.

Assistant Secretary of State for Europe Dan Fried will
testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on
Wednesday June 18th at 10:00am EDT regarding U.S.
policy toward the Caucasus region. Chairman Howard
Berman (D-CA) and his fellow Committee members will be
focusing on a wide range of issues including the
ongoing blockade of Armenia, U.S. policy on the
Armenian Genocide, and foreign aid. Turkish Ambassador
to the U.S. Nabi Sensoy recently denied the existence
of a Turkish blockade, arguing that there are many
Armenians who serve as "nannies" to Turkish children.
The World Bank estimates that Turkey and Azerbaijan?s
blockades of Armenia reduce Armenia?s GDP by up to 38%
annually.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), along with Rep. George
Radanovich (R-CA) and Congressional Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairs Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI) recently introduced the "End the
Turkish Blockade of Armenia" Bill (H.R. 6079), which
calls upon
Turkey to end its blockade of Armenia and asks the
U.S. Department of State to report on its efforts
towards this end.

On Thursday, June 19th, at 2:15pm, the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee is slated to hold a confirmation
hearing for U.S. Ambassador to Armenia nominee Marie
Yovanovitch.

On March 28, 2008, Pres. Bush nominated Amb. Marie L.
Yovanovitch to serve as
America?s next Ambassador to Armenia. The ANCA has
spoken to Committee members about the value of
carefully questioning Amb. Yovanovitch on the many
issues she will face as the U.S. envoy in Yerevan,
among them the recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
Turkey and Azerbaijan?s ongoing blockades of Armenia,
and the need for a balanced U.S. role in helping forge
a democratic and peaceful resolution to the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. These efforts have been supported
by extensive on-line outreach and a national postcard
campaign to key Senate Foreign Relations Committee
members.

President Bush?s previous nominee as U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia, Richard Hoagland, was subject to two
legislative holds by Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and was
ultimately withdrawn by the Administration, following
the nominee?s statements denying the Armenian
Genocide.

The last U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall
Evans, was fired by President Bush for speaking
honestly about the Armenian Genocide. The ANCA led the
Armenian American community campaign opposing
Hoagland?s nomination, stating that a genocide denier
could not serve as a credible and effective U.S.
spokesperson in Armenia.

Get the name you always wanted with the new y7mail email address.

–Boundary_(ID_4q 6dnSJKpuIPRpSMcHz4ug)–