Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
ASSEMBLY HAILS HOUSE PASSAGE OF BILL PROHIBITING FUNDS FOR RAIL BYPASS
OF ARMENIA
President Bush Set to Sign into Law
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly today praised the House of
Representatives for the unanimous passage of a bill affirming U.S.
policy in the South Caucasus by prohibiting funding for a railroad,
sponsored by Turkey and Azerbaijan, which excludes Armenia from economic
and regional transportation corridors.
The bill will now go to President Bush for his expected signature.
Lawmakers approved S.3938, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of
2006, which included an amendment by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and
Rick Santorum (R-PA) ensuring that no Export-Import funding is used for
a rail line connecting Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan while
circumventing Armenia. The provision was similar to an amendment
offered in the House version by Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY), along
with Congressmen Edward Royce (R-CA) and Brad Sherman (D-CA), which was
unanimously approved by the House Financial Services Committee in July.
"Well aware that Turkey and Azerbaijan continue to make every effort
possible to isolate Armenia from economic and regional opportunities,
passage of today’s legislation was key to the Assembly’s legislative
agenda," said Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. "We thank
Senators Menendez and Santorum for their steadfast support of Armenia
and for introducing legislation (S. 2461) that would prevent U.S.
taxpayers from funding this project."
Hovnanian noted that despite congressional intent to prevent Armenia’s
isolation and an European Union declaration that it "will not finance
the Kars-Akhalkalak railway construction since the project leaves out
Armenia [which] conflicts with the European Neighborhood Policy," Turkey
and Azerbaijan plan to proceed with the project.
"As a proud member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and
representative of a large and vibrant Armenian community of Armenians, I
want to thank my colleagues Joe Crowley and Ed Royce for their hard work
on this issue," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), ranking member of the
Joint Economic Committee, in a statement on the House floor.
"Allowing the exclusion of Armenia from important transportation routes
would stymie the emergence of this region as an important East-West
trade corridor," she continued. "It is in our economic and security
interest to ensure that we do not support the historic aggression
between Turkey and Armenia."
Following Maloney, Crowley, referring to Armenia as "a great U.S. ally,"
noted that both the Senate and House versions of the bill included
language pertaining to Armenia, which he spearheaded in the House.
"This language will assist in promoting stability in the Caucasus
region, help in ending long standing conflict, and save U.S. taxpayers
the responsibility of funding a project that goes against U.S.
interests," said Crowley, a Member of the Armenian Caucus. "For over 10
years, Armenia has fought a blockade, imposed on them by the countries
of Turkey and Azerbaijan. These two countries continually exclude
Armenia from regional development."
Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), thanked his
colleagues for "putting a stop to [Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s] policy of
isolating Armenia. It is not good for Armenia, not good for the
Caucasus nations, and ultimately not good for the United States."
"If this policy of isolating Armenia continues it would only lead to
another war," Pallone warned, pointing out that Armenia’s dual blockades
coupled with Azerbaijan’s belligerence could lead to regional strife.
He noted that it has been U.S. policy to encourage regional integration
and that "the idea to build a railroad that would cut off Armenia, which
has been suggested by Azerbaijan and Turkey, would be contrary to the
policy [which] this Congress, under both Democratic and Republican
leadership, has had for the last 20 years."
"Let’s continue the policy of cooperation in bringing these countries
together for the common good," Pallone urged. He also added that an
existing rail line, that connects Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan, could
be operational with minimal cost.
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny thanked Representatives Maloney,
Crowley and Pallone for their statements of support today and their work
to prevent attempts to isolate Armenia. He also commended Armenian
Caucus Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Armenian Caucus Members Sherman
and Royce, and the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House Financial
Services and Senate Banking Committees for pushing the legislation
through.
The Export-Import Bank is the federal government agency that helped
finance the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline to transport crude oil from the
Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean Sea.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
NR#2006-108
Editor’s Note: Below is the text of Congressman Joseph Crowley’s remarks
before the House of Representatives.
Congressman Crowley Statement
Export Import Bank Reauthorization
December 6, 2006
Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Export-Import Bank
Reauthorization
This bill will strengthen the Export-Import Bank’s abilities to allow
American companies to compete in the global market as we try to increase
our exports, increase our global competitiveness and create more and
better paying jobs in the USA
This is a bill about exporting products not jobs.
Additionally, I am happy to say that both the Senate and the House
versions of this bill include language that I co-authored pertaining to
the nation of Armenia, a great U.S. ally.
My language, done with Congressmen Ed Royce and Brad Sherman, prohibits
the Export-Import Bank from funding any railway projects from
Azerbaijan, through Georgia and Turkey, which specifically bypasses
Armenia. I am very pleased that this language was included in the final
version of this legislation.
This language will assist in promoting stability in the Caucasus region,
help in ending long standing conflicts, and save U.S. taxpayers the
responsibility of funding a project that goes against U.S. interests.
For over 10 years, Armenia has fought a blockade, imposed on them by the
countries of Turkey and Azerbaijan. These two countries continually
exclude Armenia from regional development.
Exclusion of one country in regional projects only fosters instability.
Besides possibly creating a regional crisis, this project, if funded by
the Export-Import Bank could cost taxpayers millions. I do not believe
that U.S. taxpayers should be funding a project that goes against U.S.
interests.
I am pleased this good language was added to an already good bill.
Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support the Export-Import
Reauthorization.
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