HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE HOLDS HEARING ON THE SOUTH CAUCASUS REGION, CHAIRMAN BERMAN RAISES STRONG CONCERNS ABOUT TURKEY’S 15-YEAR BLOCKADE OF ARMENIA WHILE REP WATSON DEMANDS A RESPONSE ON THE ADMINISTRATION’S FLAWED POLICY WITH RESPECT TO AFFIRMA

KarabakhOpen
26-06-2008 13:40:13

Washington, DC – Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) raised strong concerns
about Turkey’s "punishing policy" of blockading its neighbor Armenia
during a hearing on the Caucasus today, reported the Armenian Assembly
of America (Assembly). In his opening remarks during a House Foreign
Affairs Committee hearing entitled "The Caucasus: Frozen Conflicts
and Closed Borders," Chairman Berman stated that "the land blockade
is also, quite possibly, illegal, as it seems to breach Turkey’s
undertaking in the 1922 Treaty of Kars to keep its border-crossings
with Armenia open. And it violates the spirit of the World Trade
Organization, of which both Turkey and Armenia are members." Berman
termed it "one of the most puzzling and problematic matters" that
holds the Armenian economy back and "enormously increases the cost
of much of Armenia’s trade with other nations."

During a question and answer session with Assistant Secretary of State
for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried, Members of Congress
raised key policy and funding issues, including the Turkish blockade,
Azerbaijan’s ongoing war rhetoric, increased military expenditures,
and the Armenian Genocide, among other issues.

In addition to Chairman Berman who correctly pointed out that progress
on Turkey’s lifting of the blockade should not be linked to the
Nagorno Karabakh peace process, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) stated
that the blockade "violates U.S. policy." Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA),
while expressing support for the self-determination of the people of
Nagorno Karabakh, stated that we have to fight against the blockade
and that "there is no excuse for it." Sherman asked what pressure the
Administration was putting on Turkey to lift the blockade, of which
Assistant Secretary Fried responded that the Administration wants to
see lifted and has encouraged both sides to normalize relations.

Berman asked Assistant Secretary Fried to lay out the steps that the
government has taken to convince Turkey to end this "counter-productive
practice of closed borders," and "why hasn’t the State Department –
which opposes the land blockade – spoken out more forcefully on this
matter?" Rep.

Schiff also echoed Berman’s request for more specificity and upon
listening to Fried’s response, concluded that the Administration must
do more in this regard.

In addition to the blockade issue, Members were also deeply
concerned about Azerbaijan’s ongoing warmongering and bellicose
statements. Rep. Ed Royce’s (R-CA) concerns were echoed by Armenian
Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone, Jr (D-NJ) and Joseph Knollenberg
(R-MI). Rep. Knollenberg noted that Azerbaijan is a dictatorship
that continues its bellicose statements unabated and asked what the
Administration is doing to stop the Azeri war machine. Rep. Pallone
also raised this critically important issue and called upon the
Administration to ensure greater contact between the Nagorno Karabakh
government and the Azerbaijani government, as well as confidence
building measures. Rep. Pallone further noted his concerns about
Azerbaijan’s pressure on the State Department with respect to
U.S.-Nagorno Karabakh contacts. Fried for his part, responded that
bellicose statements are not helpful and added that the Azeris deny
that they have any intention of resuming hostilities. Fried also
believed that increased contacts overall were important and noted
that a solution to the peace process, which the U.S. and the parties
are working toward, will be the best way forward.

In perhaps the most intense exchange during the hearing, Rep. Diane
Watson (D-CA) focused her attention on the Armenian Genocide and
questioned the State Department’s policy on instructing its staff
not to use the term genocide. In his response, Secretary Fried said
that the Administration does not deny the historical events, but fell
short of employing the proper term.

Stating that the Armenian Genocide, with its "mass killings, murder,
mass exile, brutality" is "beyond denial," the Congresswoman asked
"Why does the United States not recognize that it was genocide?"

"Was it genocide? Yes or no?" Watson demanded. After several attempts
to receive an answer, Watson yielded back her limited time stating,
"it is clear that I am not going to get an answer to my question."

Reinforcing Watson, Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) recalled the efforts and
reports of then Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau,
who described in great detail the horrors of 1915. Fried noted that
he was very familiar with Morgenthau’s reports stating that they were
"stark, stunning and sadly accurate and that the intent was not to
move people in a peaceful way."

Adding to questions in regard to genocide, Rep. Schiff asked Secretary
Fried, "Would you describe the mass killing during the holocaust
as a genocide?" "Yes," Fried responded. Schiff then asked, "Would
you describe the mass killing in Cambodia as a genocide?" Fried
responded, "I’d like to reserve only because I am not as familiar
with that." Schiff then asked, "Would you describe the mass killing
in Rwanda as a genocide?" Which Fried said "We have used that word,
the administration has used that word, yes."

Moving on, Schiff asked "Would you describe the mass killing in
Darfur as a genocide?" "I’d like to reserve on that but I believe
we have used that word," Fried responded. Schiff quickly added, that
"You have used that word, I can tell you have, and we should."

In closing his questions, Schiff then asked, "Would you describe the
mass killings of the Armenians as a genocide?" Fried responded "This
Administration and the President’s policy is not to use that word,
although I want to be clear, we have never denied the historical
facts of the mass killings, murders, forced exiles and brutality that
occurred in those years as a matter of historical fact."

On other policy matters, Rep. Sherman (D-CA) discussed Section
907, calling it another part of the embarrassing history of the
administration in evading laws passed by Congress and then asked
Fried if the State Department counsels its employees to avoid using
the term genocide. And again, Secretary Fried reiterated that
the State Department follows the President’s policy, therefore,
since the President does not use the term, neither will the
State Department. Sherman also took the Secretary to task on the
Administration’s proposed assistance cut to Armenia, noting that it was
more than fifty percent, from fiscal year 2008. Sherman also sought
clarification on whether the Millennium Challenge Account funding
served as a replacement or supplement to the Freedom Support Act,
of which Fried indicated that it was supplemental.

Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, who attended today’s hearing
along with Assembly Congressional Relations Associate Bianka Dodov and
Assembly Associate Director of Grassroots Taniel Koushakjian, stated
that "We applaud the leadership of Chairman Berman in holding this
important and timely hearing in which these critical policy issues
were raised. For too long, these issues have been on the backburner
and I want to thank the members of the Committee for placing them
in the forefront. In a region where the U.S. is facing competition
for influence, this hearing sends a clear message that the U.S. is
deeply interested in and concerned about developments in the region."

Below, please find excerpts of Fried’s testimony:

Testifying on behalf of the Bush Administration, Daniel Fried,
Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, told
Members of Congress that Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia are "diverse
both in their histories and in the challenges that they face today"
adding that "America’s policy toward them has been steady, steadfast
and supportive."

"The policy of the United States is unambiguous: we want to help the
nations of this region travel along the same path toward freedom,
democracy and market-based economies that so many of their neighbors
to the West have traveled."

Fried painted a brief description of how in 1989, a wave of democracy
began sweeping eastward from its origins in Central Europe, questioning
how far "this wave of freedom and democracy" will reach, asking, "Will
it, and can it, extend to the easternmost reaches of wider Europe?"

"Armenia can be a great success story, but its recent history has
been one of difficulties," Fried said. He was quick to add that "the
Armenian people have demonstrated extraordinary resilience through
their long history of hardship and tragedy."

"The last decade has witnessed an economic turnaround in Armenia,
with double-digit GDP growth year upon year coupled with, until
recently, low inflation. The Diaspora community around the world
continues to extend its hand to Armenia, in both humanitarian and
philanthropic giving and direct investment. Through their advocacy
and indications of a will to reform, Armenia in 2006 entered into a
Millennium Challenge Corporation compact worth $236 million."

Touching on integration in the region, Fried said "one major step would
be a peaceful, just, and lasting settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict," while another principle concern would be in "achieving
normal relations between Armenia and Turkey." Adding that "the United
States supports the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border" because
"the status quo is not helpful to anyone."