This was first published in August 1, 2009 Armenian Reporter
Clinton indicates shift in U.S. thinking on Iran nuclear program
With chances for a new government in Tehran quickly receding, American leaders have renewed warnings over Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program, news agencies report.
The Obama administration is unhappy with the lack of Iranian response to its offer of dialogue, with the president and secretary of state hinting that the offer might expire before the end of the year. U.S. officials also insist that they find a nuclear-armed Iran "unacceptable."
Secretary Hillary Clinton has in the past threatened fresh "crippling sanctions" as a form of pressure on Iran should it continue policies that bring it close to acquiring nuclear weapons.
But in an apparent verbal slipup, Mrs. Clinton referred last week to a "defense umbrella" that the United States might extend to its Middle East allies, The Associated Press reported. Although Mrs. Clinton denied it indicated U.S. acceptance that Iran will eventually become nuclear-armed, that is how the comment was taken by most observers.
During her presidential election campaign, Mrs. Clinton used the term to describe a policy that would call for a U.S. commitment to retaliate against Iran should it use nuclear weapons against Israel or other regional allies of the United States, and thus theoretically deter Iran.
The concept had been articulated by the pro-Israel Washington Institute for Near East Policy, including its former senior staff member Ambassador Dennis Ross, who is now the Obama administration's point man on Iran.
The apparent shift in U.S. thinking has worried Israel, whose officials argue that deterrence cannot be effective against Iran. In recent weeks, Israeli leaders from the right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have renewed claims Israel might launch a military strike against Iran in an attempt to postpone its progress toward nuclear weapons.
U.S. reaction to Israeli threats has been mixed.
Vice President Joe Biden said in early July that the United States could not tell Israel what it could do to safeguard its security; but President Barack Obama then denied that the comments were a "green light" for an Israeli attack on Iran.
Biden comments on Russian economy, Georgian politics
Then-Senator Joe Biden in Tbilisi with Pres. Saakashvili and his spouse, August 17, 2009. U.S. Embassy in Georgia
Russia will be forced to cooperate with the United States because Russia will grow economically and politically weaker, Vice President Joe Biden told the Wall Street Journal at the end of his trip to Georgia last week.
Mr. Biden made the comments when asked why he thought the U.S. policy of reaching out to Russia would succeed while the United States continues to oppose a Russian "sphere of influence" in the former Soviet space. Mr. Biden also predicted a Russian banking collapse in the next 15 years.
Speaking to NBC's Meet the Press last Sunday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sought to address Russia's irritation at Mr. Biden's comments.
"Every country faces challenges. We have our challenges, Russia has their challenges," she said, but "we view Russia as a great power."
The vice president also expressed doubts about future of democracy in Georgia.
"What worries me most is they don't understand how to establish democracy," Mr. Biden said.
President Mikheil Saakashvili "has the impulses of what was the Rose Revolution. It was: 'We're in the street, you get your a** out of office, or we're going to do something.'
"It was a cry for freedom, and it was a demonstration of a total rejection of the other government. It's a leap from there to say, 'Here's how democratic institutions work.'"
U.S. officials, Congress members debate relations with Russia
In testimony before the House Subcommittee on Europe on July 28, Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Celeste Wallander discussed the aftermath of President Barack Obama's visit to Moscow in early July.
The two officials agreed that concerns over Iran's nuclear program also dominate U.S. thinking in its efforts to engage the Russian government.
Members of the subcommittee appeared split on the likelihood of a successful engagement with Russia, with subcommittee chair Robert Wexler (D.-Fla.) and others appearing skeptical.
On the other side of the debate, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R.-Calif.) was most upbeat on Russia and dismissive of U.S. support for the former Soviet republics.
To address, what Rep. Rohrabacher described as two overarching U.S. foreign policy concerns - radical Islamism and communist China - the United States needed the support of "giant" Russia rather than an "alliance of Lilliputians." Rep. Rohrabacher also suggested that it was Russia rather than its smaller neighbors that should be brought into NATO.
Rep. Bill Delahunt (D.-Mass.) expressed concerns over reports that Georgia was seeking to acquire weapons from the United States and said he was strongly opposed to such a move.
In a response, Ms. Wallander noted that the United States believes Georgia is "not ready" to receive U.S. weapons, but did not rule out such supplies in the future. For now, U.S. military support for Georgia will continue to focus on military training programs.
Russia, Turkey to hold fresh high-level talks
Russian premier Vladimir Putin will visit with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on August 6, the Russian and Turkish governments announced on July 30.
According to media reports, cooperation on nuclear energy as well as Russian oil and gas exports to and through Turkey will dominate the agenda. Earlier this year, a Russian company was the only bidder for the Turkish nuclear-energy tender. Preliminary talks have been held by Turkish and Russian officials overseeing energy issues.
Russia is Turkey's biggest trade partner, with bilateral trade surpassing $33 billion last year.
Reflecting the intensity of high-level contacts, Mr. Putin's visit will become his ninth meeting with the Turkish leader; they previously met in Russia last May.
Showing posts with label Biden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Biden. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Genocide resolution, Biden on Russia, Plouffe in Baku
This was first published in February 14, 2009 Armenian Reporter
Washington Briefing
by Emil Sanamyan
Congressional support sought for Genocide resolution as opposition readies
In a message to fellow members of Congress, Reps. Adam Schiff (D.-Calif.), George Radanovich (R.-Calif.), Frank Pallone (D.-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R.-Ill.) are urging them "to re-affirm the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide by cosponsoring a bipartisan resolution" on the subject, according to a February 10 electronic letter made available to the Armenian Reporter.
The letter seeks co-sponsors for the resolution prior to its formal introduction and congressional consideration. In January 2007, when a similar resolution was introduced, it had 160 original co-sponsors.
That resolution gained the support of a majority of House members (more than 218) before the resolution's approval by the House Foreign Affairs Committee in October 2007. But the number of co-sponsors fell to about 200 after defections caused by lobbying by the Bush administration on behalf of the Turkish government.
The administration of President Barack Obama has not yet taken a formal position on the issue. While members of the Senate and throughout the presidential campaign, Mr. Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were supporters of affirmation.
Last week, two members of the Turkish parliament from the ruling party, Suat Kiniklioglu and Cuneyt Yuksel, were in the United States to lobby against the resolution. According to the Jamestown Foundation's translation, the two, having met U.S. officials and Jewish-American leaders, told Zaman newspaper that the "pro-Israel lobby will stay neutral if a genocide resolution is brought to the Congress; in case a resolution passed, Turkey should not hold Israel responsible as such a policy would make the Congress upset; and in order to prevent such genocide resolution, Turkey should open its Armenian border."
Mr. Kiniklioglu also told Azeri Press Agency (APA) on February 9, "if Mrs. Clinton opposes a draft resolution, the Armenian lobby will face with more difficulties to bring a new resolution to the Congress. I can say that Hillary Clinton has a key to this issue."
Meanwhile, Turkish foreign minister Ali Babacan reportedly raised the issue with Vice President Biden when they met during the Munich Security Conference last weekend.
Biden: U.S. seeks cooperation with Russia while noting disagreements
Vice President Joe Biden was the star speaker at the Munich Security Conference, an annual event held last weekend. In his February 7 address, Mr. Biden recalled President Barack Obama's offer to "reset" relations with Russia in order to reverse the "dangerous drift" in relations and focus ties on cooperative subjects such as nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation.
Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, who was in attendance, reportedly welcomed what he termed a "strong signal" from the United States and a "very positive" meeting with Mr. Biden.
But in his address, Mr. Biden also referred to disagreements with Russia, promising not to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, former autonomous areas of Soviet Georgia now recognized as independent states by Russia.
This week the State Department expressed "regret" about Russia's plans to establish military bases in both places, urging Moscow "to respect Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
And in allusions to Russian dominance in the former Soviet space and Georgia's efforts to join NATO, the vice president said in Munich that the United States "will not recognize a sphere of influence" and will support countries' "own decisions [to] choose their own alliances."
While in Munich, Mr. Biden met with embattled Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili. Mr. Saakashvili, who in recent months has kept a low international profile, said that Mr. Biden promised continued U.S. support.
But according to Reuters, unlike his predecessors in the Bush administration, Mr. Biden declined to endorse Georgia's NATO bid outright.
"I'm in favor of Georgia's continued independence and autonomy," he said, adding that seeking NATO membership "is a decision for Georgia to make."
Writing on February 8, RFE/RL regional commentator Ahto Lobjakas suggested Georgia was "fading on EU [and] NATO radar screens."
Obama campaign manager queried over paid speech in Azerbaijan
David Plouffe pledged to donate proceeds from his paid speech in Azerbaijan to pro-democracy groups after his surprise trip was made public and subsequently questioned in U.S. media, the Wall Street Journal reported on February 9. Mr. Plouffe was Barack Obama's campaign manager.
Mr. Plouffe, who secured a lucrative deal to write a book about the presidential campaign, registered with the Washington Speakers Bureau, based in Alexandria, Va., to deliver paid speeches on the subject. He was reportedly paid $50,000 in addition to expenses associated with a two-day trip to deliver a lecture at an Azerbaijani college.
The trip and payment were reportedly arranged by hired American lobbyists for Azerbaijan who are also based in the same Virginia suburb of Washington. Mr. Plouffe was expected to meet President Ilham Aliyev, although contrary to usual practice, the meeting was not publicized by the president's office.
According Mr. Plouffe's associate contacted by the Journal, Mr. Plouffe "only learned of [foreign government lobbyists'] involvement after he had already embarked for the Caspian Sea nation."
The newspaper also cited U.S. officials as noting the "Azerbaijan government has long sought to legitimize itself by hosting prominent Americans, often with the help of Washington lobbyists." Other leading media outlets question Mr. Plouffe's liaison with an authoritarian leader.
The White House spokesperson said that Mr. Plouffe's trip was as a "private citizen" and he was not asked to deliver any messages on behalf of the Obama administration.
Poll: U.S. edges out China and Russia in worldwide popularity
Although more respondents worldwide still hold negative views of the United States, the overall view of the United States has improved while that of Russia and China has declined, according to a BBC World Service Poll conducted in 26 countries around the world late last year and made public on February 5.
According to the findings, 40 percent of respondents had a positive view of the United States (vs. 43 percent with negative views), 39 percent had positive views of China (vs. 40 percent) and 30 percent had positive views of Russia (vs. 42 percent).
Iran, Pakistan, and Israel, in that order, had the most negative ratings; while Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada were seen in the most positive light, by 61, 58, and 57 percent of respondents, respectively.
The poll involved 13,575 respondents in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Chile, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Turkey, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, India, Russia, China, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, and Australia. connect: www.worldpublicopinion.org
Washington Briefing
by Emil Sanamyan
Congressional support sought for Genocide resolution as opposition readies
In a message to fellow members of Congress, Reps. Adam Schiff (D.-Calif.), George Radanovich (R.-Calif.), Frank Pallone (D.-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R.-Ill.) are urging them "to re-affirm the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide by cosponsoring a bipartisan resolution" on the subject, according to a February 10 electronic letter made available to the Armenian Reporter.
The letter seeks co-sponsors for the resolution prior to its formal introduction and congressional consideration. In January 2007, when a similar resolution was introduced, it had 160 original co-sponsors.
That resolution gained the support of a majority of House members (more than 218) before the resolution's approval by the House Foreign Affairs Committee in October 2007. But the number of co-sponsors fell to about 200 after defections caused by lobbying by the Bush administration on behalf of the Turkish government.
The administration of President Barack Obama has not yet taken a formal position on the issue. While members of the Senate and throughout the presidential campaign, Mr. Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were supporters of affirmation.
Last week, two members of the Turkish parliament from the ruling party, Suat Kiniklioglu and Cuneyt Yuksel, were in the United States to lobby against the resolution. According to the Jamestown Foundation's translation, the two, having met U.S. officials and Jewish-American leaders, told Zaman newspaper that the "pro-Israel lobby will stay neutral if a genocide resolution is brought to the Congress; in case a resolution passed, Turkey should not hold Israel responsible as such a policy would make the Congress upset; and in order to prevent such genocide resolution, Turkey should open its Armenian border."
Mr. Kiniklioglu also told Azeri Press Agency (APA) on February 9, "if Mrs. Clinton opposes a draft resolution, the Armenian lobby will face with more difficulties to bring a new resolution to the Congress. I can say that Hillary Clinton has a key to this issue."
Meanwhile, Turkish foreign minister Ali Babacan reportedly raised the issue with Vice President Biden when they met during the Munich Security Conference last weekend.
Biden: U.S. seeks cooperation with Russia while noting disagreements
Vice President Joe Biden was the star speaker at the Munich Security Conference, an annual event held last weekend. In his February 7 address, Mr. Biden recalled President Barack Obama's offer to "reset" relations with Russia in order to reverse the "dangerous drift" in relations and focus ties on cooperative subjects such as nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation.
Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, who was in attendance, reportedly welcomed what he termed a "strong signal" from the United States and a "very positive" meeting with Mr. Biden.
But in his address, Mr. Biden also referred to disagreements with Russia, promising not to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, former autonomous areas of Soviet Georgia now recognized as independent states by Russia.
This week the State Department expressed "regret" about Russia's plans to establish military bases in both places, urging Moscow "to respect Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
And in allusions to Russian dominance in the former Soviet space and Georgia's efforts to join NATO, the vice president said in Munich that the United States "will not recognize a sphere of influence" and will support countries' "own decisions [to] choose their own alliances."
While in Munich, Mr. Biden met with embattled Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili. Mr. Saakashvili, who in recent months has kept a low international profile, said that Mr. Biden promised continued U.S. support.
But according to Reuters, unlike his predecessors in the Bush administration, Mr. Biden declined to endorse Georgia's NATO bid outright.
"I'm in favor of Georgia's continued independence and autonomy," he said, adding that seeking NATO membership "is a decision for Georgia to make."
Writing on February 8, RFE/RL regional commentator Ahto Lobjakas suggested Georgia was "fading on EU [and] NATO radar screens."
Obama campaign manager queried over paid speech in Azerbaijan
David Plouffe pledged to donate proceeds from his paid speech in Azerbaijan to pro-democracy groups after his surprise trip was made public and subsequently questioned in U.S. media, the Wall Street Journal reported on February 9. Mr. Plouffe was Barack Obama's campaign manager.
Mr. Plouffe, who secured a lucrative deal to write a book about the presidential campaign, registered with the Washington Speakers Bureau, based in Alexandria, Va., to deliver paid speeches on the subject. He was reportedly paid $50,000 in addition to expenses associated with a two-day trip to deliver a lecture at an Azerbaijani college.
The trip and payment were reportedly arranged by hired American lobbyists for Azerbaijan who are also based in the same Virginia suburb of Washington. Mr. Plouffe was expected to meet President Ilham Aliyev, although contrary to usual practice, the meeting was not publicized by the president's office.
According Mr. Plouffe's associate contacted by the Journal, Mr. Plouffe "only learned of [foreign government lobbyists'] involvement after he had already embarked for the Caspian Sea nation."
The newspaper also cited U.S. officials as noting the "Azerbaijan government has long sought to legitimize itself by hosting prominent Americans, often with the help of Washington lobbyists." Other leading media outlets question Mr. Plouffe's liaison with an authoritarian leader.
The White House spokesperson said that Mr. Plouffe's trip was as a "private citizen" and he was not asked to deliver any messages on behalf of the Obama administration.
Poll: U.S. edges out China and Russia in worldwide popularity
Although more respondents worldwide still hold negative views of the United States, the overall view of the United States has improved while that of Russia and China has declined, according to a BBC World Service Poll conducted in 26 countries around the world late last year and made public on February 5.
According to the findings, 40 percent of respondents had a positive view of the United States (vs. 43 percent with negative views), 39 percent had positive views of China (vs. 40 percent) and 30 percent had positive views of Russia (vs. 42 percent).
Iran, Pakistan, and Israel, in that order, had the most negative ratings; while Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada were seen in the most positive light, by 61, 58, and 57 percent of respondents, respectively.
The poll involved 13,575 respondents in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Chile, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Turkey, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, India, Russia, China, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, and Australia. connect: www.worldpublicopinion.org
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Team Obama takes shape
First published in December 6, 2008 Armenian Reporter
Obama administration’s national security team takes shape
by Emil Sanamyan
Hillary Clinton with Barack Obama.
Washington, - President-elect Barack Obama will appoint his main Democratic primary election opponent Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York as secretary of state; keep the serving Bush administration Defense Secretary Robert Gates; and nominate retired Gen. James Jones as national security advisor.
Mr. Obama made these plans public on December 1, seven weeks before he is set to be inaugurated as president of the United States.
Asked to comment about the choices in terms of Armenian concerns, Ross Vartian, executive director of the U.S.-Armenia Public Affairs Committee (USAPAC), said it will be up to President Obama to make key decisions and for the officials he appoints to implement them.
"Going forward, we will have a president who has repeatedly and clearly pledged to affirm the Armenian Genocide, achieve a Karabakh peace settlement based on the principle of self-determination, and expand U.S. relations with Armenia," Mr. Vartian told the Armenian Reporter.
Vice President-elect Joe Biden, who serves as chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, also has a strong Senate record on the affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.
Sen. Clinton as secretary of state
Armenian-American organizations, including the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and the Armenian Assembly of America, welcomed Sen. Clinton's selection, citing her record in the Senate and pledges while a candidate for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.
According to the Turkish daily Hurriyet, anonymous Turkish officials have reportedly also welcomed the president-elect's choice. According to the newspaper, Mrs. Clinton is seen in Turkey "as an experienced and centrist figure with a positive understanding of Turkey."
As a senator, Mrs. Clinton supported congressional measures to affirm the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide and signed letters to President George W. Bush urging him to do the same.
A statement issued by Mrs. Clinton's election campaign on January 24, 2008, said, "I believe the horrible events perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians constitute a clear case of genocide." She pledged to "recognize the Armenian Genocide" if elected president.
In that statement, Mrs. Clinton also promised "to expand and improve U.S.-Armenia relations," including an increase in U.S. aid "to Armenia and the people of Nagorno Karabagh," as well as helping reach a "fair and democratic resolution of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict."
Sec. Gates as secretary of defense
President-elect Obama has also asked Defense Secretary Gates to stay in office for at least another year. Mr. Gates was appointed by President Bush following the November 2006 midterm congressional elections, replacing the controversial Donald Rumsfeld.
Last year, Mr. Gates participated in the Bush administration's lobbying effort in opposition to the House of Representatives' resolution on the Armenian Genocide.
In March 2007 Defense Secretary Gates co-signed a letter with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D.-Calif.) arguing that passage of the House resolution would "significantly endanger U.S. national security interests."
And in October of last year, Mr. Gates told a Pentagon news conference that a resolution, if passed, would damage U.S.-Turkey relations "perhaps beyond repair" and "do real harm" to U.S. troops in Iraq, The Associated Press reported at the time.
In the same period, Mr. Gates spoke shortly after his meeting with Serge Sargsian, who was Armenia's prime minister at the time; both officials said after the meeting that they did not discuss the resolution. (Armenian officials have historically refused to weigh in on congressional debates, although they have broadly welcomed international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.)
In those comments, Mr. Gates also said that he "worked [the Armenian Genocide] issue" while deputy national security advisor to President George H. W. Bush in 1990, when a Senate resolution was championed by then-Minority leader Robert Dole (R.-Kan.)
Gen. Jones as national security advisor
Retired Marine Corps General James Jones will serve as the incoming president's chief aide on national security matters. As national security advisor, Gen. Jones will coordinate the work of various agencies such as the State Department and the Pentagon.
Like President-elect Obama, Gen. Jones spent much of his childhood abroad, in his case in France. But graduating from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in 1966, Mr. Jones switched to a military career and service in the Vietnam War.
Gen. Jones last served as commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) from 2003 to 2006. In that capacity he worked with other NATO governments and militaries, including those of Turkey and NATO partner states in the Caucasus.
In a June 2003 interview with Armenia's Mediamax news agency, Gen. Jones highlighted the importance of Armenia's hosting of the Cooperative Best Effort exercises in the NATO Partnership for Peace framework.
And in September 2004, Gen. Jones canceled a similar exercise in Azerbaijan after its government barred Armenian officers from attending.
In his March 2005 testimony to the Senate Armed Service Committee, Gen. Jones spoke of Armenia's region as "increasingly important to [U.S.] interests." Calling Armenia's region a "pivot point" for the states of Central Asia and Middle East, he highlighted the importance of Caspian energy resources and the Caucasus serving as a transit point for air-delivered supplies to U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Samantha Power is back
+during++presentation+of+Carla+Garapedian%27s+(on+left)+Armenian+genocide+documentary+at+Harvard+in+2007.+Harvard+News+Office+photo.jpg)
Samantha Power (on right) during a presentation of Carla Garapedian's (on left) Armenian Genocide documentary at Harvard in 2007. Harvard News Office
Washington, - Harvard University professor Samantha Power, who resigned last March from the Obama campaign after calling his then-rival Sen. Clinton "a monster," is now back working for President-elect Obama's transition team.
A close Obama advisor, Ms. Power has been a strong supporter of Armenian Genocide affirmation. In a video address released by the ANCA last January, she encouraged Armenian-Americans to support Mr. Obama as someone who has a "willingness to challenge conventional wisdom and conventional Washington," and when it came to the Armenian Genocide "call a ‘spade a spade'; and to speak the truth about it."
According to www.change.gov, cited by Politico on November 28, Ms. Power is part of the President-elect's team now studying State Department personnel, operations, and policy, and working to "ensure that senior appointees have the information necessary to complete the confirmation process, lead their departments, and begin implementing signature policy initiatives immediately after they are sworn in."
It is unclear what, if any, formal position Ms. Power may be offered in the Obama administration.
Obama administration’s national security team takes shape
by Emil Sanamyan
Hillary Clinton with Barack Obama. Washington, - President-elect Barack Obama will appoint his main Democratic primary election opponent Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York as secretary of state; keep the serving Bush administration Defense Secretary Robert Gates; and nominate retired Gen. James Jones as national security advisor.
Mr. Obama made these plans public on December 1, seven weeks before he is set to be inaugurated as president of the United States.
Asked to comment about the choices in terms of Armenian concerns, Ross Vartian, executive director of the U.S.-Armenia Public Affairs Committee (USAPAC), said it will be up to President Obama to make key decisions and for the officials he appoints to implement them.
"Going forward, we will have a president who has repeatedly and clearly pledged to affirm the Armenian Genocide, achieve a Karabakh peace settlement based on the principle of self-determination, and expand U.S. relations with Armenia," Mr. Vartian told the Armenian Reporter.
Vice President-elect Joe Biden, who serves as chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, also has a strong Senate record on the affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.
Sen. Clinton as secretary of state
Armenian-American organizations, including the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and the Armenian Assembly of America, welcomed Sen. Clinton's selection, citing her record in the Senate and pledges while a candidate for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.
According to the Turkish daily Hurriyet, anonymous Turkish officials have reportedly also welcomed the president-elect's choice. According to the newspaper, Mrs. Clinton is seen in Turkey "as an experienced and centrist figure with a positive understanding of Turkey."
As a senator, Mrs. Clinton supported congressional measures to affirm the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide and signed letters to President George W. Bush urging him to do the same.
A statement issued by Mrs. Clinton's election campaign on January 24, 2008, said, "I believe the horrible events perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians constitute a clear case of genocide." She pledged to "recognize the Armenian Genocide" if elected president.
In that statement, Mrs. Clinton also promised "to expand and improve U.S.-Armenia relations," including an increase in U.S. aid "to Armenia and the people of Nagorno Karabagh," as well as helping reach a "fair and democratic resolution of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict."
Sec. Gates as secretary of defense
President-elect Obama has also asked Defense Secretary Gates to stay in office for at least another year. Mr. Gates was appointed by President Bush following the November 2006 midterm congressional elections, replacing the controversial Donald Rumsfeld.
Last year, Mr. Gates participated in the Bush administration's lobbying effort in opposition to the House of Representatives' resolution on the Armenian Genocide.
In March 2007 Defense Secretary Gates co-signed a letter with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D.-Calif.) arguing that passage of the House resolution would "significantly endanger U.S. national security interests."
And in October of last year, Mr. Gates told a Pentagon news conference that a resolution, if passed, would damage U.S.-Turkey relations "perhaps beyond repair" and "do real harm" to U.S. troops in Iraq, The Associated Press reported at the time.
In the same period, Mr. Gates spoke shortly after his meeting with Serge Sargsian, who was Armenia's prime minister at the time; both officials said after the meeting that they did not discuss the resolution. (Armenian officials have historically refused to weigh in on congressional debates, although they have broadly welcomed international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.)
In those comments, Mr. Gates also said that he "worked [the Armenian Genocide] issue" while deputy national security advisor to President George H. W. Bush in 1990, when a Senate resolution was championed by then-Minority leader Robert Dole (R.-Kan.)
Gen. Jones as national security advisor
Retired Marine Corps General James Jones will serve as the incoming president's chief aide on national security matters. As national security advisor, Gen. Jones will coordinate the work of various agencies such as the State Department and the Pentagon.
Like President-elect Obama, Gen. Jones spent much of his childhood abroad, in his case in France. But graduating from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in 1966, Mr. Jones switched to a military career and service in the Vietnam War.
Gen. Jones last served as commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) from 2003 to 2006. In that capacity he worked with other NATO governments and militaries, including those of Turkey and NATO partner states in the Caucasus.
In a June 2003 interview with Armenia's Mediamax news agency, Gen. Jones highlighted the importance of Armenia's hosting of the Cooperative Best Effort exercises in the NATO Partnership for Peace framework.
And in September 2004, Gen. Jones canceled a similar exercise in Azerbaijan after its government barred Armenian officers from attending.
In his March 2005 testimony to the Senate Armed Service Committee, Gen. Jones spoke of Armenia's region as "increasingly important to [U.S.] interests." Calling Armenia's region a "pivot point" for the states of Central Asia and Middle East, he highlighted the importance of Caspian energy resources and the Caucasus serving as a transit point for air-delivered supplies to U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Samantha Power is back
+during++presentation+of+Carla+Garapedian%27s+(on+left)+Armenian+genocide+documentary+at+Harvard+in+2007.+Harvard+News+Office+photo.jpg)
Samantha Power (on right) during a presentation of Carla Garapedian's (on left) Armenian Genocide documentary at Harvard in 2007. Harvard News Office Washington, - Harvard University professor Samantha Power, who resigned last March from the Obama campaign after calling his then-rival Sen. Clinton "a monster," is now back working for President-elect Obama's transition team.
A close Obama advisor, Ms. Power has been a strong supporter of Armenian Genocide affirmation. In a video address released by the ANCA last January, she encouraged Armenian-Americans to support Mr. Obama as someone who has a "willingness to challenge conventional wisdom and conventional Washington," and when it came to the Armenian Genocide "call a ‘spade a spade'; and to speak the truth about it."
According to www.change.gov, cited by Politico on November 28, Ms. Power is part of the President-elect's team now studying State Department personnel, operations, and policy, and working to "ensure that senior appointees have the information necessary to complete the confirmation process, lead their departments, and begin implementing signature policy initiatives immediately after they are sworn in."
It is unclear what, if any, formal position Ms. Power may be offered in the Obama administration.
Obama/Biden on phone; NKR Pres. in U.S.; U.S.-Armenia task force meets in DC
First published in November 22, 2008 Armenian Reporter.
Washington Briefing
by Emil Sanamyan
Obama, Biden in telephone talks with foreign leaders
President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden called a number of "world leaders and expressed thanks and appreciation for their congratulations on the election."
The presidential transition web site www.change.gov reports that on November 6, Mr. Obama took calls from leaders of close U.S. allies Australia, Great Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Mexico, and South Korea. On November 7 he spoke with leaders of Italy, Spain, Poland, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, and on November 8 with those of Russia and China.
The president-elect phoned Presidents Abdullah Gül of Turkey and Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia, as well as the Philippines president on November 17; the presidents of Colombia, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa, and United Nations secretary general on November 18; and the presidents of Argentina, Chile, Kazakhstan, and Palestine, and the Irish Prime Minister, on November 19.
No details of conversations were reported by the president-elect, but Mr. Saakashvili's office reported that "the U.S. President-elect expressed his unconditional support to the territorial integrity of Georgia and focused on the importance of continuation of the ongoing reforms in Georgia [and] U.S. support in this regard."
And according to Mr. Gul's office, Mr. Obama "emphasized the importance of the special relations between the two allies, Turkey and U.S." and backed Turkey's fight against Kurdish rebels.
Other calls to foreign leaders were made by Sen. Biden. On November 10 he telephoned the Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, who is likely to be the next prime minister, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and opposition leader Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu; Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown, as well as the presidents of Poland and Afghanistan and, on November 11, the king of Jordan.
And on November 17, Mr. Biden called the European Union's Javier Solana, as well as the presidents of Colombia and Georgia, the prime minister of Spain, and the foreign minister of Greece.
Karabakh president begins U.S. visit
President Bako Sahakian of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) began a 10-day working visit to the United States on November 18. Mr. Sahakian's delegation includes NKR Finance Minister Spartak Tevosian and other officials.
The trip is dedicated to the annual Thanksgiving Day telethon in support of Karabakh and Armenia organized by the Armenia Fund in Los Angeles and includes stops in Boston and New York for meetings with Armenian-American community leaders.
Since its creation in 1992, the fund has supported key transportation infrastructure in Karabakh with about $185 million spent on projects throughout Armenia.
U.S.-Armenia Task Force meets in Washington
Economic Development Minister Nerses Yeritsian led an Armenian government delegation to Washington for talks with U.S. officials from November 19 to 21.
The visit was within the regular U.S.-Armenia Task Force (USATF) mechanism and included visits with official counterparts at the Departments of State and Commerce, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. The USATF's American co-chair is currently Daniel Rosenblum, the State Department assistance to Eurasia coordinator.
USATF was previously co-chaired by Armenia's Finance and Economy Ministers Levon Barkhudarian (1999-2000) and Vardan Khachatrian (2000-2008), and U.S. State Department Coordinators for U.S. assistance to Eurasia Bill Taylor (2000-2003) and Tom Adams (2004-2008).
Set up in 2000, USATF is an intergovernmental committee that meets twice a year to discuss U.S. assistance for Armenia's reforms and bilateral economic ties.
However, the volume of U.S. assistance to Armenia has declined from an average of $75million a year in 2004-2006 to about $50 million in 2007. Bilateral trade remained steady at an average of $125 million a year in 2004-2007, with U.S. exports to Armenia accounting for most of the turnover.
Item below was published in November 29, 2008 Armenian Reporter:
Open Sky agreement signed by Armenia and the United States
by Armen Hakobyan
Yerevan - As part of the process of authorizing direct flights between the United States and Armenia, the two countries signed an Open Sky agreement in Washington on November 21.
Artyom Movsesian, director general of Armenia's Civil Aviation Agency, who was in Washington as part of the Armenian delegation to the U.S.-Armenia Task Force (USATF), signed the agreement with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Daniel Fried.
Mr. Movsesian told the Armenian Reporter in an interview that "the agreement is fairly liberal and creates broad opportunities for cooperation with the U.S., where we have a large Armenian diaspora. Apart from that, the agreement gives aviation companies opportunities to implement flexible policies."
For actual flights to begin, Armenian and U.S. carriers must carry out feasibility studies: They must determine the aircraft they wish to use, the routes they wish to take, the frequency, and the price, Mr. Movsesian said.
On the Armenian side, the management of Armavia has stated on more than one occasion that the company is planning direct flights to Los Angeles with a refueling stop in Shannon, Ireland.
Before that can happen, however, the U.S. Federal Aviation Agency must, under the agreement, carry out studies to confirm that Armenia can fulfill flight security and aviation security demands.
Mr. Movsesian said the investigation would last at least six months. He noted that the representatives of the U.S. side have recently visited Armenia and met with him.
Washington Briefing
by Emil Sanamyan
Obama, Biden in telephone talks with foreign leaders
President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden called a number of "world leaders and expressed thanks and appreciation for their congratulations on the election." The presidential transition web site www.change.gov reports that on November 6, Mr. Obama took calls from leaders of close U.S. allies Australia, Great Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Mexico, and South Korea. On November 7 he spoke with leaders of Italy, Spain, Poland, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, and on November 8 with those of Russia and China.
The president-elect phoned Presidents Abdullah Gül of Turkey and Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia, as well as the Philippines president on November 17; the presidents of Colombia, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa, and United Nations secretary general on November 18; and the presidents of Argentina, Chile, Kazakhstan, and Palestine, and the Irish Prime Minister, on November 19.
No details of conversations were reported by the president-elect, but Mr. Saakashvili's office reported that "the U.S. President-elect expressed his unconditional support to the territorial integrity of Georgia and focused on the importance of continuation of the ongoing reforms in Georgia [and] U.S. support in this regard."
And according to Mr. Gul's office, Mr. Obama "emphasized the importance of the special relations between the two allies, Turkey and U.S." and backed Turkey's fight against Kurdish rebels.
Other calls to foreign leaders were made by Sen. Biden. On November 10 he telephoned the Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, who is likely to be the next prime minister, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and opposition leader Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu; Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown, as well as the presidents of Poland and Afghanistan and, on November 11, the king of Jordan.
And on November 17, Mr. Biden called the European Union's Javier Solana, as well as the presidents of Colombia and Georgia, the prime minister of Spain, and the foreign minister of Greece.
Karabakh president begins U.S. visit
President Bako Sahakian of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) began a 10-day working visit to the United States on November 18. Mr. Sahakian's delegation includes NKR Finance Minister Spartak Tevosian and other officials.
The trip is dedicated to the annual Thanksgiving Day telethon in support of Karabakh and Armenia organized by the Armenia Fund in Los Angeles and includes stops in Boston and New York for meetings with Armenian-American community leaders.
Since its creation in 1992, the fund has supported key transportation infrastructure in Karabakh with about $185 million spent on projects throughout Armenia.
U.S.-Armenia Task Force meets in Washington
Economic Development Minister Nerses Yeritsian led an Armenian government delegation to Washington for talks with U.S. officials from November 19 to 21.
The visit was within the regular U.S.-Armenia Task Force (USATF) mechanism and included visits with official counterparts at the Departments of State and Commerce, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. The USATF's American co-chair is currently Daniel Rosenblum, the State Department assistance to Eurasia coordinator.
USATF was previously co-chaired by Armenia's Finance and Economy Ministers Levon Barkhudarian (1999-2000) and Vardan Khachatrian (2000-2008), and U.S. State Department Coordinators for U.S. assistance to Eurasia Bill Taylor (2000-2003) and Tom Adams (2004-2008).
Set up in 2000, USATF is an intergovernmental committee that meets twice a year to discuss U.S. assistance for Armenia's reforms and bilateral economic ties.
However, the volume of U.S. assistance to Armenia has declined from an average of $75million a year in 2004-2006 to about $50 million in 2007. Bilateral trade remained steady at an average of $125 million a year in 2004-2007, with U.S. exports to Armenia accounting for most of the turnover.
Item below was published in November 29, 2008 Armenian Reporter:
Open Sky agreement signed by Armenia and the United States
by Armen Hakobyan
Yerevan - As part of the process of authorizing direct flights between the United States and Armenia, the two countries signed an Open Sky agreement in Washington on November 21.
Artyom Movsesian, director general of Armenia's Civil Aviation Agency, who was in Washington as part of the Armenian delegation to the U.S.-Armenia Task Force (USATF), signed the agreement with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Daniel Fried.
Mr. Movsesian told the Armenian Reporter in an interview that "the agreement is fairly liberal and creates broad opportunities for cooperation with the U.S., where we have a large Armenian diaspora. Apart from that, the agreement gives aviation companies opportunities to implement flexible policies."
For actual flights to begin, Armenian and U.S. carriers must carry out feasibility studies: They must determine the aircraft they wish to use, the routes they wish to take, the frequency, and the price, Mr. Movsesian said.
On the Armenian side, the management of Armavia has stated on more than one occasion that the company is planning direct flights to Los Angeles with a refueling stop in Shannon, Ireland.
Before that can happen, however, the U.S. Federal Aviation Agency must, under the agreement, carry out studies to confirm that Armenia can fulfill flight security and aviation security demands.
Mr. Movsesian said the investigation would last at least six months. He noted that the representatives of the U.S. side have recently visited Armenia and met with him.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Briefly: Biden on Armenia & Georgia, Caucasians in Denver, Georgians ask for $1-2bn, Azeris in California
First published in August 30, 2008 Armenian Reporter.
Washington Briefing
by Emil Sanamyan
Sen. Obama’s running mate pick strong on Armenian issues
Sen. Barack Obama (D.-Ill.) chose Sen. Joe Biden (D.-Del.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as his running mate last week, and the Democratic National Convention in Denver confirmed him as the party’s vice presidential nominee.
The selection was welcomed by Armenian-American organizations since Mr. Biden has a long track record of supporting Armenian-American concerns throughout his more than 35 years in the Senate.
That record includes support for U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, including the Senate resolution championed by the Senate Republican Party leader Bob Dole in 1990, supporting all Armenian Genocide resolutions introduced in the Senate since, and pushing for a change in the Bush Administration policy as part of the confirmation process for the U.S. ambassador to Armenia since 2006 and until earlier this summer.
During the July 29 Foreign Relations Committee meeting that confirmed Marie Yovanovitch as U.S. ambassador to Armenia, Mr. Biden noted, “Recognition by the United States of the Armenian Genocide is not the final goal. The real goal is the recognition of Turkey – of the Turkish Government – of the Armenian Genocide and the establishment of a common Turkish-Armenian understanding of the events and tragedy that took place.”
Mr. Biden also supported Karabakh’s right to self-determination and the 1993 U.S. sanctions against Azerbaijan over its aggression against Armenia and Karabakh.
He introduced the 2007 resolution honoring the Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink assassinated by Turkish nationalists.
Earlier this year, Mr. Obama himself issued a statement in which he promised to recognize the Armenian Genocide as president and support a Karabakh settlement “that is agreeable to all parties, and based upon America’s founding commitment to the principles of democracy and self determination.”
The Republican Party’s presumptive nominee, Sen. John McCain (R.- Ariz.) has promised no changes in U.S. policies on Armenian issues; he has also yet to select a running mate.
Last year, Mr. Biden also advocated for a robust U.S. response to the humanitarian crisis in Sudan’s Darfur region, and was willing to “commit U.S. troops on the ground.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Biden supports U.S. leadership in Armenia’s region and checking Russia’s influence there. In a joint letter with his committee colleague Sen. Dick Lugar (R.-Ind.) last October, Sen. Biden argued that the United States has a “long-term interest in preventing Russian domination of energy [development and transportation] in the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia.”
Other senior foreign policy advisors to Mr. Obama include President Carter’s National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, 80, a strong advocate of containing Russia, as well as the Clinton Administration’s National Security Advisor Anthony Lake, 69, and former State Department policy planning director Gregory Craig, 63, both of whom are strong proponents of NATO expansion.
Politicians from Armenia, elsewhere in Denver for Democratic National Convention events
Some 500 foreign officials from about 100 countries were in Denver this week for the International Leaders’ Forum organized by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) to coincide with the Democratic National Convention. NDI has organized the event during every convention since 1984 to provide a forum for foreign leaders and the Democratic Party’s foreign policy team.
According to the Armenian Reporter’s information, former Prime Minister Vazgen Manukian of the National Democratic Union and former national security service director David Shahnazarian, a political ally and in-law of ex-President Levon Ter-Petrossian, were expected to attend.
During the Democratic Party’s national convention held in July 2004 in Boston, Armenia was represented by Amb. Arman Kirakossian and Stepan Demirchian of the opposition People’s Party.
This year, Amb. Tatoul Markarian is in Yerevan for the annual gathering of Armenian diplomats and is unable to attend.
Azerbaijan was represented by the presidential administration’s propaganda director Ali Hassanov.
As in years past, perennial government opponents Isa Gamberov and Ali Kerimov were also invited, although it was unclear if either one was attending.
Also in attendance were Georgian Parliament Speaker David Bakradze and Minister for European Integration Georgi Baramidze, who actively lobbied for a tougher U.S. policy on Russia.
Other visitors from Georgia included former Parliament Speaker Nino Bourjanadze and leader of the opposition Republican Party David Usupashvili.
Georgia seeks “1 to 2 billion” dollars in foreign aid
The Georgian government is seeking $1 to $2 billion in aid to repair and develop infrastructure after the war with Russia, USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore said on August 22, www.civil.ge reported citing Reuters news agency.
“Georgia has given us rather a long list of things they would like to see – communications is certainly part of it, hydro-electric dams... That’s really reconstruction, it’s for infrastructure. It’s not just because of hostilities. It’s for development,” Ms. Fore said, adding that “it does not all need to be done by the United States. It can be done by international organizations as well as other bilateral organizations.”
Writing in the Wall Street Journal on August 26, Senators Joe Lieberman (I.-Conn.) and Lindsey Graham (R.-S.C.), who recently visited Georgia on behalf of presumptive Republican presidential candidate John McCain, supported U.S. provision of weapons to Georgia to be able to “deter” Russian forces.
The U.S. Congress is expected to approve a significant aid package to Georgia when it returns from holidays next month, said House of Representatives’ Foreign Relations Committee Chair Rep. Howard Berman (D.-Calif.) and Democratic Policy Committee chair Rep. George Miller (D.-Calif.) who also went to Georgia on August 22.
Georgia has received close to $2 billion in U.S. assistance in the decade and a half since independence.
Azerbaijani officials on propaganda tour of California
The California State Assembly hosted a group of four Azerbaijani officials earlier this month, one of the delegation members Azerbaijani Milli Majlis member Asim Mollazade told Day.az on August 21.
The group visited the two chambers of California’s legislature in Sacramento, Rep. Berman, who represents a Los Angeles–area district, the San Francisco City Council, and the local World Affairs Council.
Mr. Mollazade said he and his colleagues used the opportunity to talk up Azerbaijan’s importance to the world, threats posed by “imperial” Russia, as well as “true reasons” behind the conflict with Armenia.
He singled out the importance of raising the Azerbaijani flag in the California legislature as a significant event.
In September 2007 Azerbaijan hosted a California delegation that included State Senator Sheila Kuehl, State Assembly members Julia Brownley, Betty Karnette, and Lori Saldaña, as well as assistant director of the California State Senate international relations office Shannon Shellenberg.
Washington Briefing
by Emil Sanamyan
Sen. Obama’s running mate pick strong on Armenian issues
Sen. Barack Obama (D.-Ill.) chose Sen. Joe Biden (D.-Del.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as his running mate last week, and the Democratic National Convention in Denver confirmed him as the party’s vice presidential nominee.
The selection was welcomed by Armenian-American organizations since Mr. Biden has a long track record of supporting Armenian-American concerns throughout his more than 35 years in the Senate.
That record includes support for U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, including the Senate resolution championed by the Senate Republican Party leader Bob Dole in 1990, supporting all Armenian Genocide resolutions introduced in the Senate since, and pushing for a change in the Bush Administration policy as part of the confirmation process for the U.S. ambassador to Armenia since 2006 and until earlier this summer.
During the July 29 Foreign Relations Committee meeting that confirmed Marie Yovanovitch as U.S. ambassador to Armenia, Mr. Biden noted, “Recognition by the United States of the Armenian Genocide is not the final goal. The real goal is the recognition of Turkey – of the Turkish Government – of the Armenian Genocide and the establishment of a common Turkish-Armenian understanding of the events and tragedy that took place.”
Mr. Biden also supported Karabakh’s right to self-determination and the 1993 U.S. sanctions against Azerbaijan over its aggression against Armenia and Karabakh.
He introduced the 2007 resolution honoring the Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink assassinated by Turkish nationalists.
Earlier this year, Mr. Obama himself issued a statement in which he promised to recognize the Armenian Genocide as president and support a Karabakh settlement “that is agreeable to all parties, and based upon America’s founding commitment to the principles of democracy and self determination.”
The Republican Party’s presumptive nominee, Sen. John McCain (R.- Ariz.) has promised no changes in U.S. policies on Armenian issues; he has also yet to select a running mate.
Last year, Mr. Biden also advocated for a robust U.S. response to the humanitarian crisis in Sudan’s Darfur region, and was willing to “commit U.S. troops on the ground.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Biden supports U.S. leadership in Armenia’s region and checking Russia’s influence there. In a joint letter with his committee colleague Sen. Dick Lugar (R.-Ind.) last October, Sen. Biden argued that the United States has a “long-term interest in preventing Russian domination of energy [development and transportation] in the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia.”
Other senior foreign policy advisors to Mr. Obama include President Carter’s National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, 80, a strong advocate of containing Russia, as well as the Clinton Administration’s National Security Advisor Anthony Lake, 69, and former State Department policy planning director Gregory Craig, 63, both of whom are strong proponents of NATO expansion.
Politicians from Armenia, elsewhere in Denver for Democratic National Convention events
Some 500 foreign officials from about 100 countries were in Denver this week for the International Leaders’ Forum organized by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) to coincide with the Democratic National Convention. NDI has organized the event during every convention since 1984 to provide a forum for foreign leaders and the Democratic Party’s foreign policy team.
According to the Armenian Reporter’s information, former Prime Minister Vazgen Manukian of the National Democratic Union and former national security service director David Shahnazarian, a political ally and in-law of ex-President Levon Ter-Petrossian, were expected to attend.
During the Democratic Party’s national convention held in July 2004 in Boston, Armenia was represented by Amb. Arman Kirakossian and Stepan Demirchian of the opposition People’s Party.
This year, Amb. Tatoul Markarian is in Yerevan for the annual gathering of Armenian diplomats and is unable to attend.
Azerbaijan was represented by the presidential administration’s propaganda director Ali Hassanov.
As in years past, perennial government opponents Isa Gamberov and Ali Kerimov were also invited, although it was unclear if either one was attending.
Also in attendance were Georgian Parliament Speaker David Bakradze and Minister for European Integration Georgi Baramidze, who actively lobbied for a tougher U.S. policy on Russia.
Other visitors from Georgia included former Parliament Speaker Nino Bourjanadze and leader of the opposition Republican Party David Usupashvili.
Georgia seeks “1 to 2 billion” dollars in foreign aid
The Georgian government is seeking $1 to $2 billion in aid to repair and develop infrastructure after the war with Russia, USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore said on August 22, www.civil.ge reported citing Reuters news agency.
“Georgia has given us rather a long list of things they would like to see – communications is certainly part of it, hydro-electric dams... That’s really reconstruction, it’s for infrastructure. It’s not just because of hostilities. It’s for development,” Ms. Fore said, adding that “it does not all need to be done by the United States. It can be done by international organizations as well as other bilateral organizations.”
Writing in the Wall Street Journal on August 26, Senators Joe Lieberman (I.-Conn.) and Lindsey Graham (R.-S.C.), who recently visited Georgia on behalf of presumptive Republican presidential candidate John McCain, supported U.S. provision of weapons to Georgia to be able to “deter” Russian forces.
The U.S. Congress is expected to approve a significant aid package to Georgia when it returns from holidays next month, said House of Representatives’ Foreign Relations Committee Chair Rep. Howard Berman (D.-Calif.) and Democratic Policy Committee chair Rep. George Miller (D.-Calif.) who also went to Georgia on August 22.
Georgia has received close to $2 billion in U.S. assistance in the decade and a half since independence.
Azerbaijani officials on propaganda tour of California
The California State Assembly hosted a group of four Azerbaijani officials earlier this month, one of the delegation members Azerbaijani Milli Majlis member Asim Mollazade told Day.az on August 21.
The group visited the two chambers of California’s legislature in Sacramento, Rep. Berman, who represents a Los Angeles–area district, the San Francisco City Council, and the local World Affairs Council.
Mr. Mollazade said he and his colleagues used the opportunity to talk up Azerbaijan’s importance to the world, threats posed by “imperial” Russia, as well as “true reasons” behind the conflict with Armenia.
He singled out the importance of raising the Azerbaijani flag in the California legislature as a significant event.
In September 2007 Azerbaijan hosted a California delegation that included State Senator Sheila Kuehl, State Assembly members Julia Brownley, Betty Karnette, and Lori Saldaña, as well as assistant director of the California State Senate international relations office Shannon Shellenberg.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Senate approves Ambassador to Armenia
First published in the August 2, 2008 Armenian Reporter.
Yovanovitch nomination clears Senate
After debate, Committee gives nod to ambassador-designate to Armenia
by Yelena Osipova and Emil Sanamyan
WASHINGTON – The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 29 voted to endorse the nomination of Marie L. Yovanovitch as the next United States ambassador to Armenia. The full Senate quickly approved the nomination on August 1.
The position has been vacant since September 2006, when Ambassador John M. Evans was recalled for speaking openly about the Armenian Genocide.
The administration’s previous nominee for the position, Richard Hoagland, received the committee’s endorsement in late 2006, but the consideration of his nomination by the full Senate was blocked by Senator Robert Menendez (D.-N.J.)
The Bush administration resubmitted the nomination in 2007, at which time the senator once again blocked it. The administration ultimately withdrew the nomination.
The Armenian government has publicly encouraged a quick confirmation of Ms. Yovanovitch’s nomination. As a sign of the importance the Armenian government attached to this matter, Tatoul Markarian, Armenia’s ambassador to the United States, was present as the committee voted.
The administration continues to refuse to use the word genocide to characterize the Armenian Genocide.
But, whereas Mr. Hoagland had initially argued that the events of 1915–17 may not fit the definition of genocide, Ms. Yovanovitch has stated repeatedly that it is up to the president to decide whether she, as ambassador, could characterize the events as genocide.
Most senators said they were still not satisfied with the administration’s position on the Genocide.
In a voice vote, they nonetheless allowed the nomination of Ms. Yovanovitch to move forward. Senators cited a State Department letter issued the day of the vote that, one senator said, marked a “significant step forward” in the administration’s appreciation of the issue.
Sen. Boxer remains in opposition
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D.-Calif.) was the sole committee member registering a vote against confirmation.
Criticizing the administration for its refusal to use the term genocide in reference to the destruction of the Armenian people in Asia Minor, she described her vote as “support for the truth.”
While acknowledging Ms. Yovanovitch’s experience and competence, Ms. Boxer said she could not vote in favor because the nominee refused to use the word genocide.
“Why can’t she just say, ‘I personally see this as genocide, but the administration does not want me to use that word. So, although in my personal view it was a genocide, I cannot call it so [officially]’?” the senator asked.
Ms. Boxer added that although she would be voting in opposition, she would take no other action to block the nomination.
Sen. Menendez notes better State Department rhetoric
Mr. Menendez, like Ms. Boxer, expressed dissatisfaction that Ms. Yovanovitch would not express her own opinion on the Armenian Genocide. He noted that when U.S.
ambassadors are sworn in, they do not “say that ‘I take an oath to the President of the United States, this or any future president.’”
Rather, they swear to uphold the Constitution, he noted, arguing that ambassadors should be able to express their opinions more freely when testifying before Congress.
Mr. Menendez cited a letter he had received from the State Department the day of the vote as a reason he was not voting against the nomination. The letter clarified testimony by Ms. Yovanovitch about a proposed State Department program to “bring archivists from Turkey and Armenia to the United States for professional training.”
It said the program did not intend to “open a debate” on the facts “of the mass killings and deportations of Armenians committed by Ottoman soldiers and other Ottoman officials in 1915.”
The letter of clarification, signed by Matthew A. Reynolds, acting assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs, added, “We indeed hold Ottoman officials responsible for those crimes.”
Mr. Menendez said that for an administration that has frequently called for the characterization of the events of 1915 to be left to historians, this response was a “significant step forward,” encouraging him to vote in favor of the nominee.
Sen. Ben Cardin (D.-Md.) also spoke in opposition to the administration’s policy, noting that from Ms. Yovanovitch’s responses to the committee it is “clear that the nominee acknowledged that what happened [to Armenians] was genocide,” even if she was forced not to publicly use the term.
Sen. Biden thanks Armenian-Americans
In his remarks, the committee chair, Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), recalled the commitments made by the State Department to work toward the improvement of Armenia-Turkey relations and to address Turkey’s genocide denial.
The committee chair said that the ultimate objective is to get Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide for all sides to move forward. Mr. Biden praised the Armenian- American community for its position on the issue and acknowledged the role played by senators in pressing the administration.
As part of the confirmation process, Senators Biden, Boxer, Cardin, and Menendez, and fellow committee members Bob Casey (D.-Penn.), Norm Coleman (R.-Minn.), Russ Feingold (D.-Wis.), John Kerry (D.-Mass.), and Barack Obama (D.-Ill.) had pressed the State Department for answers on issues relating to the U.S. policy on the Armenian Genocide, U.S.-Armenia relations, and regional matters.
(See the Armenian Reporter for July 5, 12, 19, and 26 for the full texts of the correspondence.)
Yovanovitch nomination clears Senate
After debate, Committee gives nod to ambassador-designate to Armenia
by Yelena Osipova and Emil Sanamyan
WASHINGTON – The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 29 voted to endorse the nomination of Marie L. Yovanovitch as the next United States ambassador to Armenia. The full Senate quickly approved the nomination on August 1.
The position has been vacant since September 2006, when Ambassador John M. Evans was recalled for speaking openly about the Armenian Genocide.
The administration’s previous nominee for the position, Richard Hoagland, received the committee’s endorsement in late 2006, but the consideration of his nomination by the full Senate was blocked by Senator Robert Menendez (D.-N.J.)
The Bush administration resubmitted the nomination in 2007, at which time the senator once again blocked it. The administration ultimately withdrew the nomination.
The Armenian government has publicly encouraged a quick confirmation of Ms. Yovanovitch’s nomination. As a sign of the importance the Armenian government attached to this matter, Tatoul Markarian, Armenia’s ambassador to the United States, was present as the committee voted.
The administration continues to refuse to use the word genocide to characterize the Armenian Genocide.
But, whereas Mr. Hoagland had initially argued that the events of 1915–17 may not fit the definition of genocide, Ms. Yovanovitch has stated repeatedly that it is up to the president to decide whether she, as ambassador, could characterize the events as genocide.
Most senators said they were still not satisfied with the administration’s position on the Genocide.
In a voice vote, they nonetheless allowed the nomination of Ms. Yovanovitch to move forward. Senators cited a State Department letter issued the day of the vote that, one senator said, marked a “significant step forward” in the administration’s appreciation of the issue.
Sen. Boxer remains in opposition
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D.-Calif.) was the sole committee member registering a vote against confirmation.
Criticizing the administration for its refusal to use the term genocide in reference to the destruction of the Armenian people in Asia Minor, she described her vote as “support for the truth.”
While acknowledging Ms. Yovanovitch’s experience and competence, Ms. Boxer said she could not vote in favor because the nominee refused to use the word genocide.
“Why can’t she just say, ‘I personally see this as genocide, but the administration does not want me to use that word. So, although in my personal view it was a genocide, I cannot call it so [officially]’?” the senator asked.
Ms. Boxer added that although she would be voting in opposition, she would take no other action to block the nomination.
Sen. Menendez notes better State Department rhetoric
Mr. Menendez, like Ms. Boxer, expressed dissatisfaction that Ms. Yovanovitch would not express her own opinion on the Armenian Genocide. He noted that when U.S.
ambassadors are sworn in, they do not “say that ‘I take an oath to the President of the United States, this or any future president.’”
Rather, they swear to uphold the Constitution, he noted, arguing that ambassadors should be able to express their opinions more freely when testifying before Congress.
Mr. Menendez cited a letter he had received from the State Department the day of the vote as a reason he was not voting against the nomination. The letter clarified testimony by Ms. Yovanovitch about a proposed State Department program to “bring archivists from Turkey and Armenia to the United States for professional training.”
It said the program did not intend to “open a debate” on the facts “of the mass killings and deportations of Armenians committed by Ottoman soldiers and other Ottoman officials in 1915.”
The letter of clarification, signed by Matthew A. Reynolds, acting assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs, added, “We indeed hold Ottoman officials responsible for those crimes.”
Mr. Menendez said that for an administration that has frequently called for the characterization of the events of 1915 to be left to historians, this response was a “significant step forward,” encouraging him to vote in favor of the nominee.
Sen. Ben Cardin (D.-Md.) also spoke in opposition to the administration’s policy, noting that from Ms. Yovanovitch’s responses to the committee it is “clear that the nominee acknowledged that what happened [to Armenians] was genocide,” even if she was forced not to publicly use the term.
Sen. Biden thanks Armenian-Americans
In his remarks, the committee chair, Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), recalled the commitments made by the State Department to work toward the improvement of Armenia-Turkey relations and to address Turkey’s genocide denial.
The committee chair said that the ultimate objective is to get Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide for all sides to move forward. Mr. Biden praised the Armenian- American community for its position on the issue and acknowledged the role played by senators in pressing the administration.
As part of the confirmation process, Senators Biden, Boxer, Cardin, and Menendez, and fellow committee members Bob Casey (D.-Penn.), Norm Coleman (R.-Minn.), Russ Feingold (D.-Wis.), John Kerry (D.-Mass.), and Barack Obama (D.-Ill.) had pressed the State Department for answers on issues relating to the U.S. policy on the Armenian Genocide, U.S.-Armenia relations, and regional matters.
(See the Armenian Reporter for July 5, 12, 19, and 26 for the full texts of the correspondence.)
Monday, April 16, 2007
FWIB: Margarian's death, Biden's resolution on Dink, U.S.-Turkish defense lobby, Iraqi Armenians
From Washington, in Brief
by Emil Sanamyan
Prime Minister Margarian remembered in Washington
A steady stream of officials from the federal and Washington city governments, a number of U.S.-accredited ambassadors and diplomats, and Armenian-Americans came to the Armenian Embassy on March 28 to honor the memory of Prime Minister Andranik Margarian who died of heart failure on March 24.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matt Bryza flew to Yerevan to attend the funeral on March 28 and deliver a letter of condolences from President George W. Bush. Co-chairs of the Congressional Armenian Caucus Reps. Frank Pallone (D.-N.J.) and Joe Knollenberg (R.-Mich.) issued a statement mourning Margarian’s passing. Heads of several U.S. federal agencies and non-governmental organizations sent letters of condolences.
Senate Committee approves amended resolution honoring Hrant Dink
On March 28, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair, Sen. Joe Biden (D.-Del.), secured committee passage of S. Res. 65 “Condemning the murder of Hrant Dink,” after amending several passages in the resolution’s text. Armenian-American organizations, including the Armenian Assembly, the Armenian National Committee, and USAPAC welcomed Sen. Biden’s effort.
The original text said, “Mr. Dink was prosecuted under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for speaking out about the Armenian Genocide.” The State Department and the Turkish government opposed that statement. (See the March 17 edition of the Reporter for the original resolution’s full text.)
“Ankara fears that a Senate approval of the original text may act as a precedent for future congressional action,” the Turkish Daily News reported on March 26. The amended version, which passed the committee and was made available to the Reporter, said, “Mr. Dink was subjected to legal action under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for referring to the 1915 massacre of Armenians as genocide.”
A State Department reaction to the final text was not available at press time.
Another amendment was made to the part of the text that called on Turkey to normalize relations with Armenia. The text that passed the committee called on both “the Government of Turkey and the Government of Armenia to act in the interest of regional security and prosperity and reestablish full diplomatic, political and economic relations.” Unlike Turkey, Armenia has been ready to establish relations without preconditions.
At this time it is unclear whether and when S. Res. 65 might come to the Senate floor.
Major U.S.-Turkish military deal suspended (no relation to Genocide resolution reported)
Turkey suspended plans to purchase 30 F-16 fighter jets and associated equipment from Maryland-based Lockheed Martin. The parties have apparently not agreed on the price, variously estimated between $1.65 and $2.9 billion. There may be political reasons too.
Defense News on March 19 cited sources in the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries, Turkey’s procurement agency, as saying that the reason for suspension is Lockheed Martin’s inability to start delivering the planes by 2010.
In the period 2014 to 2034, Turkey also plans to spend $10.7 billion to buy 100 of the U.S.-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF), also co-produced by Lockheed Martin. Defense News’ sources said that Turkey views the modernized F-16 purchase as a stopgap solution to fill Turkey’s need for more modern jets before F-35 production begins. It would be “meaningless” for Turkey to begin taking delivery of the F-16s in 2014, as has been proposed.
But on March 26, www.F-16.net blamed the suspension on a passage inserted as part of congressional approval of the sale. The passage specifies that the sale should “not adversely affect either the military balance in the region or U.S. efforts to encourage a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus question." It provides no clear benchmarks or enforcement mechanisms.
This passage is similar to the restrictions on U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan that it not "be used for offensive purposes against Armenia or the Armenian communities in the South Caucasus." But Azerbaijani special forces and air bases modernized by the U.S. are under the control of a government that is overtly planning to use them for exactly these “offensive purposes.”
Meanwhile Turkey's Zaman cited a military source as saying, “Rather than the Armenian genocide bill, the [Kurdish] issue has the potential to turn upside down Turkish-U.S. strategic relations…. If the U.S. does not take action against the [Kurds] in northern Iraq or allow the Turkish military to stage a cross-border operation, [Turkey] may even [drop plans to buy] 100 JSF fighters from the U.S.”
Turkish lobby in the U.S. is upbeat on chances of stopping congressional resolutions
Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Philip Morris were “silver sponsors” of the 26th annual conference of the American-Turkish Council (ATC), held in Washington March 25-27. Other ATC members include BAE Systems, Boeing, Chevron, Citigroup, and Sikorsky.
According to the Turkish media, Ankara’s concerns with congressional affirmation of the Armenian Genocide dominated conversations at the conference.
The ATC conference featured a special message from President George W. Bush. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates was the keynote speaker. Mr. Gates was quoted by The Associated Press as saying, "Our two nations should oppose measures and rhetoric that needlessly and destructively antagonize each other. That includes symbolic resolutions by the United States Congress as well as the type of anti-American and extremist rhetoric that sometimes finds a home in Turkish political discourse."
Turkish NTV cited Economy Minister Ali Babacan of Turkey as saying, "things looked extremely dark two months ago, but thanks to the efforts exerted by the Turkish Foreign Ministry and the staff at our Washington Embassy, as well as our lawmakers and non-governmental organizations, I see better chances that the resolution would not be submitted to Congress."
ATC president Jim Holmes, a retired U.S. ambassador, told the Turkish Daily News on March 22 that following intense lobbying by ATC, he is "hopeful … that the leadership of Congress will not bring either in the Senate or in the House of Representatives this legislation to the floor for vote."
Mr. Holmes said in an interview with Roll Call, a congressional news daily, that ATC member companies (including those listed above) are working to stop the resolution. Roll Call’s sources in the companies’ Washington lobbies confirmed that such efforts were underway.
"At the end of the day, the U.S. policy will not change regardless of what Congress does on this," U.S. ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson said during the ATC reception, according to the Turkish Daily News. "We would like to see the resolution not pass."
Mr. Holmes served as deputy chief of mission in Ankara from 1992 to 1995. The ATC board is chaired by Gen. Brent Scowcroft (ret.), national security advisor to the first President Bush. (For more information, see www.the-atc.org)
Business giants deny opposing resolutions
At the urging of the Turkish government, the American Business Forum in Turkey (ABFT) – an entity separate from the ATC – sent a letter to Congress opposing congressional resolutions on behalf of American companies with business interests in Turkey.
The Armenian National Committee of America inquired with some 70 ABFT members, asking them to clarify their position on the issue. Three companies that responded so far – Microsoft, Cargill, and Johnson and Johnson – denied they were involved in Turkey’s efforts to stop the resolutions.
U.S., United Nations aiding “special populations” displaced from Iraq
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), several million Iraqis have been displaced since the war in Iraq began in 2003. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Ellen Sauerbrey furnished this estimate during the March 26 hearing called by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Middle East.
Discussing U.S. and international assistance efforts, she referred to “special populations,” including “religious minorities such as Christians” – that in Iraq include Arabs, Assyrians, and Armenians. “We intend to ensure that these special populations receive the same consideration and access to the U.S. resettlement program as others and we are encouraging them to contact UNHCR to make their needs known,” Ms. Sauerbrey said.
On March 24, PanArmenian.net carried an interview with Baruyr Hagopian, chair of the Armenian National Committee of Iraq, who estimated that the number of Armenians in Iraq declined from 18,000 to 15,000 as a result of the war. Of those who left, most are now in Syria, Armenia, and Jordan.
Since 2003, 28 Iraqi Armenians have died, and as many have been kidnapped for ransom. Increasingly, Armenians and others from central Iraq are moving to the relative safety of the Iraqi Kurdistan. (See our story on page B1 about the new Armenian church is the area.)
Mr. Hagopian was also quoted as saying that “a significant part of Armenians living in Iraq are not satisfied with their situation and isolation from their historical motherland” and would like to become Armenian dual citizens.
by Emil Sanamyan
Prime Minister Margarian remembered in Washington
A steady stream of officials from the federal and Washington city governments, a number of U.S.-accredited ambassadors and diplomats, and Armenian-Americans came to the Armenian Embassy on March 28 to honor the memory of Prime Minister Andranik Margarian who died of heart failure on March 24.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matt Bryza flew to Yerevan to attend the funeral on March 28 and deliver a letter of condolences from President George W. Bush. Co-chairs of the Congressional Armenian Caucus Reps. Frank Pallone (D.-N.J.) and Joe Knollenberg (R.-Mich.) issued a statement mourning Margarian’s passing. Heads of several U.S. federal agencies and non-governmental organizations sent letters of condolences.
Senate Committee approves amended resolution honoring Hrant Dink
On March 28, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair, Sen. Joe Biden (D.-Del.), secured committee passage of S. Res. 65 “Condemning the murder of Hrant Dink,” after amending several passages in the resolution’s text. Armenian-American organizations, including the Armenian Assembly, the Armenian National Committee, and USAPAC welcomed Sen. Biden’s effort.
The original text said, “Mr. Dink was prosecuted under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for speaking out about the Armenian Genocide.” The State Department and the Turkish government opposed that statement. (See the March 17 edition of the Reporter for the original resolution’s full text.)
“Ankara fears that a Senate approval of the original text may act as a precedent for future congressional action,” the Turkish Daily News reported on March 26. The amended version, which passed the committee and was made available to the Reporter, said, “Mr. Dink was subjected to legal action under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for referring to the 1915 massacre of Armenians as genocide.”
A State Department reaction to the final text was not available at press time.
Another amendment was made to the part of the text that called on Turkey to normalize relations with Armenia. The text that passed the committee called on both “the Government of Turkey and the Government of Armenia to act in the interest of regional security and prosperity and reestablish full diplomatic, political and economic relations.” Unlike Turkey, Armenia has been ready to establish relations without preconditions.
At this time it is unclear whether and when S. Res. 65 might come to the Senate floor.
Major U.S.-Turkish military deal suspended (no relation to Genocide resolution reported)
Turkey suspended plans to purchase 30 F-16 fighter jets and associated equipment from Maryland-based Lockheed Martin. The parties have apparently not agreed on the price, variously estimated between $1.65 and $2.9 billion. There may be political reasons too.
Defense News on March 19 cited sources in the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries, Turkey’s procurement agency, as saying that the reason for suspension is Lockheed Martin’s inability to start delivering the planes by 2010.
In the period 2014 to 2034, Turkey also plans to spend $10.7 billion to buy 100 of the U.S.-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF), also co-produced by Lockheed Martin. Defense News’ sources said that Turkey views the modernized F-16 purchase as a stopgap solution to fill Turkey’s need for more modern jets before F-35 production begins. It would be “meaningless” for Turkey to begin taking delivery of the F-16s in 2014, as has been proposed.
But on March 26, www.F-16.net blamed the suspension on a passage inserted as part of congressional approval of the sale. The passage specifies that the sale should “not adversely affect either the military balance in the region or U.S. efforts to encourage a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus question." It provides no clear benchmarks or enforcement mechanisms.
This passage is similar to the restrictions on U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan that it not "be used for offensive purposes against Armenia or the Armenian communities in the South Caucasus." But Azerbaijani special forces and air bases modernized by the U.S. are under the control of a government that is overtly planning to use them for exactly these “offensive purposes.”
Meanwhile Turkey's Zaman cited a military source as saying, “Rather than the Armenian genocide bill, the [Kurdish] issue has the potential to turn upside down Turkish-U.S. strategic relations…. If the U.S. does not take action against the [Kurds] in northern Iraq or allow the Turkish military to stage a cross-border operation, [Turkey] may even [drop plans to buy] 100 JSF fighters from the U.S.”
Turkish lobby in the U.S. is upbeat on chances of stopping congressional resolutions
Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Philip Morris were “silver sponsors” of the 26th annual conference of the American-Turkish Council (ATC), held in Washington March 25-27. Other ATC members include BAE Systems, Boeing, Chevron, Citigroup, and Sikorsky.
According to the Turkish media, Ankara’s concerns with congressional affirmation of the Armenian Genocide dominated conversations at the conference.
The ATC conference featured a special message from President George W. Bush. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates was the keynote speaker. Mr. Gates was quoted by The Associated Press as saying, "Our two nations should oppose measures and rhetoric that needlessly and destructively antagonize each other. That includes symbolic resolutions by the United States Congress as well as the type of anti-American and extremist rhetoric that sometimes finds a home in Turkish political discourse."
Turkish NTV cited Economy Minister Ali Babacan of Turkey as saying, "things looked extremely dark two months ago, but thanks to the efforts exerted by the Turkish Foreign Ministry and the staff at our Washington Embassy, as well as our lawmakers and non-governmental organizations, I see better chances that the resolution would not be submitted to Congress."
ATC president Jim Holmes, a retired U.S. ambassador, told the Turkish Daily News on March 22 that following intense lobbying by ATC, he is "hopeful … that the leadership of Congress will not bring either in the Senate or in the House of Representatives this legislation to the floor for vote."
Mr. Holmes said in an interview with Roll Call, a congressional news daily, that ATC member companies (including those listed above) are working to stop the resolution. Roll Call’s sources in the companies’ Washington lobbies confirmed that such efforts were underway.
"At the end of the day, the U.S. policy will not change regardless of what Congress does on this," U.S. ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson said during the ATC reception, according to the Turkish Daily News. "We would like to see the resolution not pass."
Mr. Holmes served as deputy chief of mission in Ankara from 1992 to 1995. The ATC board is chaired by Gen. Brent Scowcroft (ret.), national security advisor to the first President Bush. (For more information, see www.the-atc.org)
Business giants deny opposing resolutions
At the urging of the Turkish government, the American Business Forum in Turkey (ABFT) – an entity separate from the ATC – sent a letter to Congress opposing congressional resolutions on behalf of American companies with business interests in Turkey.
The Armenian National Committee of America inquired with some 70 ABFT members, asking them to clarify their position on the issue. Three companies that responded so far – Microsoft, Cargill, and Johnson and Johnson – denied they were involved in Turkey’s efforts to stop the resolutions.
U.S., United Nations aiding “special populations” displaced from Iraq
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), several million Iraqis have been displaced since the war in Iraq began in 2003. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Ellen Sauerbrey furnished this estimate during the March 26 hearing called by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Middle East.
Discussing U.S. and international assistance efforts, she referred to “special populations,” including “religious minorities such as Christians” – that in Iraq include Arabs, Assyrians, and Armenians. “We intend to ensure that these special populations receive the same consideration and access to the U.S. resettlement program as others and we are encouraging them to contact UNHCR to make their needs known,” Ms. Sauerbrey said.
On March 24, PanArmenian.net carried an interview with Baruyr Hagopian, chair of the Armenian National Committee of Iraq, who estimated that the number of Armenians in Iraq declined from 18,000 to 15,000 as a result of the war. Of those who left, most are now in Syria, Armenia, and Jordan.
Since 2003, 28 Iraqi Armenians have died, and as many have been kidnapped for ransom. Increasingly, Armenians and others from central Iraq are moving to the relative safety of the Iraqi Kurdistan. (See our story on page B1 about the new Armenian church is the area.)
Mr. Hagopian was also quoted as saying that “a significant part of Armenians living in Iraq are not satisfied with their situation and isolation from their historical motherland” and would like to become Armenian dual citizens.
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