US CONGRESS HOLDS HEARINGS "THE CAUCASUS: FROZEN CONFLICTS AND CLOSED BORDERS"

Azeri Press Agency
June 19 2008
Azerbaijan

WASHINGTON. HUSNIYYA HASANOVA-APA. HEARINGS "THE CAUCASUS: FROZEN
CONFLICTS AND CLOSED BORDERS" WERE HELD IN THE HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE.

APA’s US bureau reports that Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, pro-Armenian Congressman from California Howard Berman said
that Turkey’s keeping the borders with Armenia closed contradicted
the interests of the US. He said that closed borders between the
two countries contradicted the terms of Gars treaty signed in 1922
and accelerated Yerevan’s staying under the influence of Iran. The
Committee Chairman said it was wrong to link closed borders between the
two countries to Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Howard Berman has close
links with influential Armenian lobby in California. His name was
mentioned in one of the conflicts concerning Armenians. The Chairman
of the Committee was criticized by the local communities for meeting
with former chief of Armenian National Committee Murad Topalian,
who was arrested on charges of swindle and terrorism and sentenced
to 37-month imprisonment.

Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried
addressing the event "We have welcomed our progress with Azerbaijan
in recent years on issues of security cooperation and diversification
of energy supplies and pipelines, and have good, productive relations
with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. We value Azerbaijan’s troop
contributions – 150 soldiers in Iraq and 45 in Afghanistan. Azerbaijan
has chosen to develop its relations with NATO at a slower pace, and
we respect its choice. Azerbaijan has had the world’s fastest growing
economy for three consecutive years. In the area of energy, Azerbaijan
is emerging as one of Europe’s critical, near-term alternative sources
of natural gas," he said.

Daniel Fried also touched upon the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

"An important step forward was taken by President Aliyev and Armenian
President Sargsian when they met for the first time in St. Petersburg
on June 6 to discuss the resolution of the conflict", he said.

Daniel Fried once more stated that the US supported Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity. Following this, Daniel Fried answered the
questions of the Committee members. Pro-Armenian congressmen Adam
Schiff (author of the bill on the so-called Armenian genocide and
bill demanding opening of Turkey-Armenia borders, Co-chair of the
Working Group on Armenia, New Jersey), Frank Pallone (Co-chair of
the Working Group on Armenia, New Jersey), Brad Sherman (Co-author of
the bills condemning the murder of journalist Hrant Dink and demanding
recognition of so-called "Armenian genocide", California), Diana Watson
(California) and others also addressed the hearings.

Pro-Armenian congressmen expressed their concern over Turkey-Armenia
border, so-called "Armenian genocide" and military challenges
of Azerbaijani leadership. Daniel Fried said that White House
administration did not recognize so-called "Armenian genocide"
and severe statements of Azerbaijani leadership caused their
concern. Co-chair of the Working Group on Turkey Robert Wexler (author
of the bill condemning attack of Kurdish terrorists on Turkey and
Turkish citizens), Jef Flake from Arizona and Dan Barton from Indiana
brought to the notice of the participants that Turkey and Azerbaijan
were strategic allies of the US and mentioned large transnational
projects implemented in the region.