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Armenian National Committee of Richmond
3311 W. Broad Street, Richmond VA 23230
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release ~ 2001-10-11
Contact: Bedros Bandazian ~ Bandaz@aol.com |
RICHMOND CONGRESSMAN DEFENDS SECTION 907; HIGHLIGHTS AZERBAIJANI LINKS TO TERRORIST OSAMA BIN LADEN |
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“Azerbaijan has failed to live up to the conditions leading to a repeal of Section 907” - Rep. Cantor (R-VA) |
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Richmond, VA – Henrico County Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA, 7th dist.) spoke out against efforts to lift U.S. aid restrictions on Azerbaijan, and highlighted the close U.S.- Armenia relationship yesterday, in testimony submitted to a key U.S. House panel, reported the Armenian National Committee of Richmond (ANC-Richmond).
Congressman Cantor's statement responds to recent efforts by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) to repeal Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, a law enacted in 1992 prohibiting certain forms of direct U.S. financial aid to the Azerbaijani government, until that country lifts its 13 year blockades of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. In his testimony, Rep. Cantor argued that, “In the wake of the terrorist attacks against the U.S. on September 11, repealing Section 907 would absolve that government of any duty to cease its aggressive action against its neighbors. The U.S. should instead continue to send the message that Azerbaijan must cease its offensive before it would consider lifting any of the U.S. restrictions.”
"We want to thank Representative Cantor for defending Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act and for educating his Congressional colleagues about the very troubling reports indicating that the Azerbaijani government of Geidar Aliyev actually invited Osama Bin Laden and his network into his country," said ANC of Richmond spokesperson Melanie Kerneklian. "We appreciate, as well, his powerful words affirming the strong bonds of friendship between the peoples of the United States and Armenia, based on shared values of freedom, liberty and democracy."
Rep. Cantor’s testimony was submitted to a House International Relations Subcommittee on Europe hearing focusing on U.S. policy toward the Caucasus and Caspian region. Subcommittee members heard testimony from three witnesses on Caucasus issues including Dr. Charles H. Fairbanks, Director of the Central Asia Caucasus Institute at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced and International Studies; Dr. Brenda Shaffer, Research Director at Harvard University’s Caspian Studies Program; and, Ms Zeyno Baran, Director of the Center of Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Georgia Forum.
The full text of Rep. Cantor’s statement follows.
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Statement of Rep. Eric Cantor
Europe Subcommittee Hearing
October 10, 2001
Thank you Mr. Chairman for holding this important hearing to assess the current political and economic environment in the Caucasus and the Caspian Region. The United States and Armenia share a strong bond of friendship and a strong commitment to the ideals of freedom, liberty and democracy.
For the past nine years, Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act has stood as a statement of U.S. policy in the region to enforce the U.S. position that Azerbaijan should cease its blockade and offensive use of force against its neighbors, Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. In the wake of the terrorist attacks against the U.S. on September 11, repealing Section 907 would absolve that government of any duty to cease its aggressive action against its neighbors. The U.S. should instead continue to send the message that Azerbaijan must cease its offensive before it would consider lifting any of the U.S. restrictions.
I was proud to recently join 33 of my colleagues in co-signing a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell urging him to maintain Section 907. Azerbaijan has failed to live up to the conditions leading to a repeal of Section 907. In fact, recent reports indicate that the Azerbaijani government invited Osama Bin Laden and his network into its country.
Another important issue affecting the nations of this region is the proposed Baku-Ceyhan pipeline. Currently this pipeline, which originates in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku and ends at the Turkish port of Ceyhan, specifically bypasses Armenia. This exclusion of a single country from a regional project serves only to foster instability. The United States needs to stand firm that Armenia must be included in regional and trans-regional economic plans and projects.
Due to its many years under a Soviet planned economy, Armenia has had a difficult transition to a market economy, despite government efforts to privatize industry. Congress has recognized Armenia’s commitment to democracy through the delivery of a generous economic aid program, but a majority of the country’s population remains poor. Armenia is one of the largest per capita recipients of U.S. aid, receiving a total of approximately $1.2 billion in aid since 1992. The United States must continue to provide a level playing field to this country which upholds our democratic ideals. Armenia deserves our support.
Thank you again, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing and I look forward to working to bring stability to this region and strengthening the bonds between the U.S. and Armenia.
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