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A Petition on Liberalization of U.S. Visa Regime with Armenia
Submitted To A Special Hearing in U.S. Congress
Working Group on Liberalization of Visa Regimes for Armenia
Tel. (+374) 77-16-02-01
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
June 19, 2008
Contact: Erik Grigoryan
Tel: (+374) 77 16-02-01
A Petition on Liberalization of U.S. Visa Regime with Armenia Is
Submitted To A Special Hearing in U.S. Congress
Yerevan, Armenia - A recently formed working group to advocate for
liberalization of visa regimes of U.S. and Europe with Armenia
launched an online petition yesterday at
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/visas/petition.ht ml targeted to
U.S. officials and the Armenian Government.
Yesterday the Working Group electronically submitted a letter
supported by the above mentioned petition to the attention of
Congressman William D. Delahunt (D-MA), the Chairman of the
Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, And
Oversight of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Congressman Rubén
Hinojosa (D-TX), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education,
Lifelong Learning, And Competitiveness of the Committee on Education
and Labor for consideration at the Joint Hearing of the two
subcommittees on "Restoring America's Leadership through Scholarships
for Undergraduates from Developing Countries: The Uniting Students in
America (USA) Proposal" scheduled on 6/19/08 at 9:30AM in 2172.
Additionally, several members of the Subcommittee on Higher Education,
Lifelong Learning, And Competitiveness, including George Miller, John
Tierney, David Wu, Susan Davis, Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, Joe Courtney,
John Yarmuth, Virginia Foxx and Cathy McMorris Rodgers were informed
of the submitted letter.
The Group urges Honorable W. D. Delahunt and his colleague Rubén
Hinojosa at the Subcommittee for Higher Education, Life-long learning
and Competitiveness to discuss this matter at the hearing. It urges
Honorable W. D. Delahunt and Rubén Hinojosa to discuss with
U.S. officials the professional conduct and selection criteria and
policies of the consulate in Yerevan and push for greater transparency
and accountability as well as favorable consideration for Armenian
citizens who are accepted for an educational and/or training program
in the U.S.
The letter brings to the attention of the two chairmen the conduct of
U.S. consular officials operating in Armenia, who reject a very large
percentage of applicants which undermines the U.S./Armenia
relationship generally and in the case of vital student exchanges, the
promotion of U.S. standard training specifically. The letter touches
upon the fact that U.S. Consular personnel rarely provide
justification for the decision to deny visas, and that young activists
and scholars are being denied visas to the US, and as a consequence,
the essential training and educational opportunities that Armenia so
desperately needs.
The Working Group, urges that any Armenian citizen accepted for an
educational and/or a training program (including, workshops, seminars
and conferences) in the U.S. should be favourably considered. The
Group commends Armenian President Sargsyan's and his predecessor
Kocharyan's personal efforts supporting study abroad generally and in
the U.S. specifically, and urges that such efforts be intensified so
that Armenia benefits from much greater numbers of U.S. trained
Armenian citizens.
The Working Group will closely monitor the proceedings at the Joint
Hearing and hopes that the Chairmen of the two subcommittees will take
the lead in pushing for transparency and accountability in the
consular activities of the United States in Armenia.
Meanwhile the Working Group will be preparing a similar petition to be
addressed to the President and the Foreign Minister of Armenia, to the
Commissioner for External Relations of the European Commission, to
Foreign Ministers of member states of the European Union, to the
Ambassadors and Consuls-general of members states of the European
Union with residence in Yerevan.
The Group invites supporters to join the petition available
electronically at http://www.PetitionOnline.com/visas/petition.html
and urges the Facebook community members to join the special group at
Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15445144630
Submitted To A Special Hearing in U.S. Congress
Working Group on Liberalization of Visa Regimes for Armenia
Tel. (+374) 77-16-02-01
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
June 19, 2008
Contact: Erik Grigoryan
Tel: (+374) 77 16-02-01
A Petition on Liberalization of U.S. Visa Regime with Armenia Is
Submitted To A Special Hearing in U.S. Congress
Yerevan, Armenia - A recently formed working group to advocate for
liberalization of visa regimes of U.S. and Europe with Armenia
launched an online petition yesterday at
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/visas/petition.ht ml targeted to
U.S. officials and the Armenian Government.
Yesterday the Working Group electronically submitted a letter
supported by the above mentioned petition to the attention of
Congressman William D. Delahunt (D-MA), the Chairman of the
Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, And
Oversight of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Congressman Rubén
Hinojosa (D-TX), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education,
Lifelong Learning, And Competitiveness of the Committee on Education
and Labor for consideration at the Joint Hearing of the two
subcommittees on "Restoring America's Leadership through Scholarships
for Undergraduates from Developing Countries: The Uniting Students in
America (USA) Proposal" scheduled on 6/19/08 at 9:30AM in 2172.
Additionally, several members of the Subcommittee on Higher Education,
Lifelong Learning, And Competitiveness, including George Miller, John
Tierney, David Wu, Susan Davis, Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, Joe Courtney,
John Yarmuth, Virginia Foxx and Cathy McMorris Rodgers were informed
of the submitted letter.
The Group urges Honorable W. D. Delahunt and his colleague Rubén
Hinojosa at the Subcommittee for Higher Education, Life-long learning
and Competitiveness to discuss this matter at the hearing. It urges
Honorable W. D. Delahunt and Rubén Hinojosa to discuss with
U.S. officials the professional conduct and selection criteria and
policies of the consulate in Yerevan and push for greater transparency
and accountability as well as favorable consideration for Armenian
citizens who are accepted for an educational and/or training program
in the U.S.
The letter brings to the attention of the two chairmen the conduct of
U.S. consular officials operating in Armenia, who reject a very large
percentage of applicants which undermines the U.S./Armenia
relationship generally and in the case of vital student exchanges, the
promotion of U.S. standard training specifically. The letter touches
upon the fact that U.S. Consular personnel rarely provide
justification for the decision to deny visas, and that young activists
and scholars are being denied visas to the US, and as a consequence,
the essential training and educational opportunities that Armenia so
desperately needs.
The Working Group, urges that any Armenian citizen accepted for an
educational and/or a training program (including, workshops, seminars
and conferences) in the U.S. should be favourably considered. The
Group commends Armenian President Sargsyan's and his predecessor
Kocharyan's personal efforts supporting study abroad generally and in
the U.S. specifically, and urges that such efforts be intensified so
that Armenia benefits from much greater numbers of U.S. trained
Armenian citizens.
The Working Group will closely monitor the proceedings at the Joint
Hearing and hopes that the Chairmen of the two subcommittees will take
the lead in pushing for transparency and accountability in the
consular activities of the United States in Armenia.
Meanwhile the Working Group will be preparing a similar petition to be
addressed to the President and the Foreign Minister of Armenia, to the
Commissioner for External Relations of the European Commission, to
Foreign Ministers of member states of the European Union, to the
Ambassadors and Consuls-general of members states of the European
Union with residence in Yerevan.
The Group invites supporters to join the petition available
electronically at http://www.PetitionOnline.com/visas/petition.html
and urges the Facebook community members to join the special group at
Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15445144630