Bill Prohibiting Funding of Railroad Bypassing Armenia Enacted

25.12.2006
PanARMENIAN.Net

The Armenian Assembly of America hailed the enactment of legislation prohibiting funding for a railroad linking Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia while bypassing Armenia. As reported by the AAA, the bill was signed into law this week as part of a comprehensive measure known as the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2006. The legislation 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 which seeks to isolate Armenia from economic and regional transportation corridors. The provision mirrors the South Caucasus Integration and Open Railroads Act, which was introduced in both Houses with the support of the Armenian Assembly.

Enactment of this provision is part of the Armenian Assembly's anti-isolation campaign and resulted in a successful outcome with final passage in the waning days of the 109th Congress. "This Assembly initiative to combat Turkey's and Azerbaijan's attempts to isolate Armenia is just one of the many ways in which we are working to ensure a secure and prosperous homeland," said Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "We very much appreciate the leadership of House and Senate Members for bringing this important initiative to fruition." "I also want to thank those organizations and individuals who joined us in this community-wide effort," he added.

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New Armenian Lobbying Organization Founded in USA

14.12.2006

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Gerard Cafesjian, an U.S. philanthropist and businessman of Armenian descent, has set up a new lobbying organization - U.S.-Armenia Public Affairs Committee (USAPAC). The group will be run by Ross Vartian. The main goal of the organization is to “complement” the existing Armenian-American advocacy groups and match their considerable influence in Washington.

Vartian, insisted that the USAPAC is not a splinter group. “Our primary purpose is to add to the community of the Armenian lobby in a unique and collaborative way and make the Armenian lobby stronger in Washington,” he told. Following traditions in Jewish lobbying groups, the organization will become one more link for forwarding the Armenian issues in the power structures of the USA.

In his words, USAPAC will concentrate on countering the impact of Azerbaijani oil on U.S. policy towards Armenia and pressing Washington to take a pro-Armenian stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He said the Armenian Genocide recognition will also be on the USAPAC agenda but indicated that the new group will favor a softer line on Turkey’s membership in the European Union. “What concerns Turkey’s EU bid and the issues of the Armenian Genocide, we think that Ankara must do all the commitments for EU membership and join to the European Union. As a fully mature member of the EU, Turkey would be a much more friendly neighbor of Armenia. And the issue of the Armenian Genocide is always in our agenda,” said Vartian, RFL Radio Liberty reports.

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Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.