U.S. SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE TO HOLD HEARINGS ON ARMENIA
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
June 11 2008
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, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
"In the days leading up to these important hearings, I want to
encourage every Armenian American to pick up the phone and to share
their thoughts with their legislators who serve on these two panels –
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs
Committee," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "Simply call
the Capitol Switch at (202) 225-3121 and asked to be connected to your
Senator or Representative, leave your message, and then drop us a note
at [email protected] with any feedback that you think might be helpful."
The ANCA has also provided sample phone scripts and contact information
for Senators and Representatives at
Assistant Secretary of State for Europe Dan Fried will testify before
the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday June 18th at 10:00
a.m. 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. To note,
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.
It should be added that 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
Karabagh conflict. These efforts have been supported by extensive
on-line outreach and a national postcard campaign to key Senate
Foreign Relations Committee members.
To remind, 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.