Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Petition on Liberalization of US Visa Regime with Armenia Submitted

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

  • Petition on Liberalization of US Visa Regime with Armenia Submitted

    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
Working...
X