Armenian Assembly of America
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PRESS RELEASE

March 26, 2009
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: mzachariades@aaainc.org
Phone: (202) 393-3434

ASSEMBLY’S VAN KRIKORIAN TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS ON AID

No linkage between U.S. Genocide reaffirmation and normalizing
Turkish-Armenian relations

Calls Attention to the Situation of Christians in the Middle East

Washington, DC – Testifying in person before the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on State Foreign Operations and Related Programs
(Subcommittee), on behalf of the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly), Van Krikorian urged the Subcommittee to allocate not less
than: $70 million for Armenia, $10 million for Nagorno Karabakh as well
as $4 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and $1 million in
International Military Education Training (IMET) for Fiscal Year 2010.
In a coordinated effort, Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone, Jr.
(D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) also called for the funding levels noted
above.

The Subcommittee, Chaired by Nita Lowey (D-NY), a long-time supporter of
Armenian-American issues met with Krikorian and Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny prior to the hearing. The new ranking member, Kay
Granger (R-TX), Co-Chair of the Turkish Caucus, was welcomed in the
Assembly’s testimony.

One of 12 witnesses to testify yesterday, including among others, the
Asia Foundation, the American Bar Association, the American Israel
Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and the Union of Concerned Scientists
to testify at the hearing, the Armenian Assembly touched on a broad
range of issues. Responding to Congressman Dennis Rehberg’s (R-MT)
concerns during testimony by the American Bar Association with respect
to the rule of law and an independent judiciary, Krikorian concurred
that it was a common problem in the former Republics of the Soviet
Union. Unfortunately, this practice continues today as evidenced by the
amendment to Azerbaijan’s constitution this month that will enable the
current President to run for office indefinitely. Krikorian argued that
U.S. assistance should promote U.S. interests and benefit the people
rather than corrupt governments.

As to Congressman Rehberg’s question regarding Azerbaijan’s blockade,
Krikorian indicated that it was extensive and that it was "an energy,
road, rail blockade." Krikorian noted that previously 85 percent of
Armenia’s supplies and energy needs used to traverse through Azerbaijan.
Krikorian recalled the very difficult days after the 1988 earthquake and
the imposition of the dual blockades, in which there was literally "no
heat, no lights" in Armenia, and noted that the Turkish blockade has
been equally punishing.

Krikorian also pointed out during the hearing that Turkey is in
violation of its treaty obligations to Armenia with respect to its
ongoing blockade, stating, "Ironically, the same treaty obligations
which established the current border between Turkey and Armenia in the
Treaties of Moscow and Kars also guarantee Armenia an open border with
Turkey and ‘free movement of persons and goods without any delays.’
Turkey has been in breach of these treaty obligations for years now
without repercussion." In the written testimony, the Assembly
highlighted the effect of the blockades, which "cost Armenia hundreds of
millions of dollars annually" and were "compounded by the economic
losses incurred as a result of the Russia-Georgia conflict last year."

Noting that we are entering the "reset era" in foreign relations,
Krikorian indicated that Armenia has uniquely good relationships with
both Russia and the United States. Regarding President Barack Obama’s
upcoming trip to Turkey, Krikorian expressed his sincere hope for
continued rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia. Krikorian was also
strongly encouraged by the clear and consistent statements of President
Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton with respect to affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.

"President Obama’s visit presents a unique opportunity for the President
to hold Turkey accountable to the norms of international law, as well as
his own statements reaffirming the historical truth of the Armenian
Genocide to help liberate Turkey and the Turkish people from their own
toxic legacy…[and] make sure the rest of the world knows that the days
of selective genocide prevention by the U.S. are over," articulated
Krikorian in the Assembly’s testimony. Krikorian supported normalization
of relations and commended "Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan for his
bold actions, including the invitation extended to Turkey’s President
Abdullah Gul to visit Armenia last year." However, Krikorian added that
"normalization of relations and Turkey’s lifting of its 15-year-long
blockade of Armenia should not be held hostage to U.S. reaffirmation of
the Armenian Genocide." At the hearing, Krikorian made it clear that
rapprochement should "not come at the expense of rewriting U.S.
history."

With respect to Vice Chairman Jesse Jackson’s (D-IL) concerns about
funding the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) for Armenia, Krikorian
first highlighted the important distinction between MCA funding and
funding under the FREEDOM Support Act. Krikorian emphasized that MCA
funding largely targeted to democratic development must be viewed as a
supplement not a replacement for aid, but that Armenians of course
support democratic development and continually promote it internally. In
written testimony, Krikorian indicated:

To be clear, the Armenian Assembly, the entire Armenian-American
community, and citizens of Armenia want to see faster improvement in
democracy, rule of law, an independent and fair judiciary, clean
elections, removal of any questions over politically charged trials,
security, and good governance. Armenians themselves recognize the
stakes in these challenges, and accept that they will continue to be
carefully monitored by the international community. In this regard, I
would like to underscore the important work of Armenia’s Human Rights
Ombudsman and the constructive role he has played in Armenia’s
democratic system.

In terms of U.S. assistance, Krikorian pointed out the strong bonds that
Armenians and Americans share starting with the U.S. humanitarian
intervention to help save the survivors of the Armenian Genocide. He
noted that his family, like many other Armenian families in America,
descends from Armenian Genocide survivors.

Krikorian also briefly addressed the issue of Christian minorities in
the Middle East, stating, "While it is not the focus of our testimony,
we would like to ask the Subcommittee that particular attention be paid
to Christians in the Middle East and in Turkey, where their population
has diminished because of war and other reasons. There are significant
communities living in that region since ancient times, and we are
sensitive to their needs, as Armenians are among that group. We would
like to add our voice in support of U.S. assistance to them and to
achieve peace there."

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c) (3)
tax-exempt membership organization.

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NR#2009-020