Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

AAA: Knollenberg Spearheads Legislation To Bar U.S. Funding ForRailr

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • AAA: Knollenberg Spearheads Legislation To Bar U.S. Funding ForRailr

    Armenian Assembly of America
    1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
    Washington, DC 20036
    Phone: 202-393-3434
    Fax: 202-638-4904
    Email: [email protected]
    Web: www.armenianassembly.org

    PRESS RELEASE
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    July 21, 2005
    CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
    Email: [email protected]

    KNOLLENBERG SPEARHEADS LEGISLATION TO BAR U.S. FUNDING FOR RAILROAD
    LINKS THAT BYPASS ARMENIA

    Washington, DC - Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chair
    Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), along with Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone,
    Jr. (D-NJ) and Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA), last night introduced
    a bill in the House of Representatives that would bar U.S. assistance
    for a proposed Kars-Akhalkalaki rail link which isolates Armenia from
    East-West commercial corridors.

    H. R. 3361, also known as the South Caucasus Integration and Open
    Railroads Act of 2005, would prohibit U.S. assistance for this
    ill-proposed route which would link Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan
    but not traverse Armenia. According to preliminary estimates,
    constructing a new rail link would cost at least $400-800 million
    and would be financed by the participating countries.

    "Excluding Armenia from economic and commercial opportunities
    undermines U.S. long-term interests in the region," said Congressman
    Knollenberg. "The U.S. should not assist in promoting or developing
    the proposed Kars-Akhalkalaki railroad, which bypasses Armenia,
    ignores the existing Kars-Gyumri route, thwarts regional cooperation
    and serves to destabilize the South Caucasus."

    Armenian government officials have repeatedly said that a new railway
    is unnecessary given that a railroad linking Armenia, Georgia and
    Turkey already exists. The existing line is in working condition and
    could be operational within weeks.

    "We commend the leadership of Congressman Knollenberg and his
    colleagues for introducing this measure," said Assembly Board of
    Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian. "The proposed railway is an
    extension of Turkey's and Azerbaijan's efforts to hinder Armenia's
    regional integration. The Assembly will block any attempt to
    isolate Armenia and fight to ensure that it is included in regional
    transportation routes which will benefit the entire South Caucasus
    and promote security, trade and economic development."


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

    NR#2005-079


    Editor's Note: Attached is Congressman Knollenberg's statement on the
    "South Caucasus Open Rail Link Act" as delivered before the House
    of Representatives.

    SPEECH OF HON. JOE KNOLLENBERG OF MICHIGAN IN THE
    HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2005 *
    Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, United States foreign policy toward the
    South Caucasus nations is one of fostering regional stability and
    enhanced cooperation. I rise today to bring attention to the great
    injustice in relations in this region. * I speak today to stress
    my opposition and to move forward with legislation contesting the
    proposed railroad connecting Tbilisi, Georgia and Kars, Turkey. The
    proposed railroad would systematically bypass Armenia, and push
    them further into isolation. * As we all know, Turkey and Armenia
    have their differences. Although it is counterproductive to list
    those differences, instead I want to highlight the fact that it
    goes against United States policy to be in a position that further
    advances the turmoil in this region, The proposed legislation would bar
    U.S. support and funding for a rail link connecting Georgia and Turkey,
    but which directly averts Armenia. * Eight years ago, the former
    Turkish president and the former Georgian president meant to discuss
    the railroad that would ``open a third frontier crossing between the
    two countries,'' providing further commerce and economic opportunity
    for the South Caucasus region. Both countries would benefit immensely
    from this railroad. * While I will always support commerce-based
    proposals that spawn economic development around the world, this
    proposal initiates commerce at the cost of another country's economic
    development. This is unacceptable. * This railroad would cost
    between $400-$800 million to construct, while a perfectly workable
    and capable rail link already exists. It is evident to all that this
    new rail system is being proposed for the specific reason of diverting
    commerce around Armenia. * The construction of the proposed railroad
    would be equivalent to the people of Ohio building a new bridge to
    Canada just to avoid traveling through Michigan. The United States
    government would never condone this action, and we should not be in the
    practice of condoning the actions set forth by the Turkish government.
    * The existing rail would be available for use within weeks of an
    agreement between Armenia, Turkey, and Georgia. Furthermore, the
    Armenian people are willing to forego using the rail until normal
    relations with Turkey are established. Mr. Speaker, although normal
    relations may still take some time, there is no reason to further
    shut Armenia out of the equation. * Moreover, the building of this
    railroad also highlights the ongoing struggle between Armenia and
    Azerbaijan. Known by all, Azerbaijan's main goal is to strangle Armenia
    into submission of Nagorno-Karabakh. This railroad does just that.
    * The United States and other countries around the world, including
    Turkey, need to allow these two countries to agree upon a solution
    regarding Nagorno-Karabakh. It is necessary that third parties
    remain neutral. The proposed railroad not only stunts the diplomatic
    progress between Armenia, Turkey and Azerbaijan, it unnecessarily
    blocks Armenia's economic and political progress. * I encourage
    my colleagues to look at the facts of this situation. The existing
    rail link would be available essentially as soon as possible and it
    would take a minimal amount of funding in order to get it usable
    again. Whereas, a new rail link would take months if not years to
    build, and would cost an estimated $400-$800 million. There should
    be no question as to which plan the United States supports.


    ###

    --Boundary_(ID_VNXVetnusRNR96OSOvUEFg)--
Working...
X