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CLINTON IN THE CAUCASUS: ANCA OFFERS TEN-POINT CHECKLIST FOR SUCCESSFUL VISIT
Asbarez
Friday, June 1st, 2012
WASHINGTON-The Armenian National Committee of America has suggested
the following ten steps that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
should undertake during her upcoming visit to the Caucasus region
to advance U.S. interests, promote American values, and strengthen
the Obama Administration's diplomatic standing in a pivotal region
of strategic importance.
Secretary Clinton is set to travel to the Caucasus from June 4 to 7 to
discuss issues of regional security, democracy, economic development
and counter-terrorism. She will visit Armenia on June 4, Georgia on
June 5, and Azerbaijan on June 6, prior to traveling to Turkey for
meetings on June 7. Read details about Secretary Clinton's travel
schedule in the Caucasus, visit.
http://www.state.gov/secretary/trvl/2012/191056.htm
10 Steps Toward a Successful Visit by Secretary Clinton to the
Caucasus:
1. A public announcement by Secretary Clinton that President Obama,
after more than three years in office, will finally honor his
promises to recognize the Armenian Genocide and to support the proper
recognition of this crime by the U.S. Congress.
2. An official visit to the Armenian Genocide memorial, during
which she honors her own pledges to recognize the Armenian Genocide,
renounces her assertion that the Armenian Genocide is a matter for
"historical debate," and asserts that the Administration will no longer
use the failed Turkey-Armenia Protocols as an excuse for complicity
in Ankara's genocide denial.
3. A clear statement distancing the U.S. from a recent NATO
declaration prioritizing the principle of territorial integrity over
self-determination in settling the status of Nagorno Karabakh, and
a commitment to strike, from a recently released State Department
report, the false assertion that Nagorno Karabakh is a part of
Azerbaijan, a Baku-backed claim that is directly at odds with
President Obama's pledge to work towards a durable settlement "based
upon America's founding commitment to the principles of democracy
and self determination."
4. A public retreat from the Administration's proposed 19% cut in
economic and democracy-building aid to Armenia, and a pledge to
both work with Congressional appropriators to honor the President's
promise to "maintain" aid levels to Armenia, and also to allocate
all unexpended aid that Congress has intended for Nagorno Karabakh.
5. A joint declaration with the Armenian government, in the spirit
of President Obama's promise to foster stronger U.S.-Armenia economic
relations, announcing talks to implement bilateral trade and investment
initiatives, including a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement,
a Double Tax Treaty, and a Free Trade Agreement.
6. A strong stand, during her visit to Azerbaijan, against the Aliyev
regime's escalating pattern of threats and renewed aggression against
Nagorno Karabakh, and a public announcement that the White House
will not waive Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act as long as
Baku fails to commit to a peaceful resolution of its conflict with
Nagorno Karabakh.
7. A withdrawal of the Administration's support, in light of Baku's
ongoing threats and acts of aggression, for the sale or transfer
of any and all arms or dual-use items to Azerbaijan, including the
controversial pending sale of advanced helicopter-based sensing
equipment.
8. A visit to investigate the medieval Armenian cemetery in Djulfa,
Nakhichevan, the site of thousands of intricate Armenian stone crosses
(khatchkars) systematically destroyed by the Azerbaijani military in
December of 2005, as documented on video-tape.
9. A public expression of U.S. support, during her trip to Georgia,
for targeted U.S. economic, development, and infrastructure assistance
programs and public-private partnerships for the Armenian-populated
Javakhk region of Georgia.
10. A trip to Stepanakert to demonstrate support for the OSCE Minsk
Group peace process, to press for the reinstatement of the Republic
of Nagorno Karabakh as a full participant in all negotiations, and to
underscore America's longstanding and proud tradition of supporting
the right of all peoples to democratic self-determination.
Asbarez
Friday, June 1st, 2012
WASHINGTON-The Armenian National Committee of America has suggested
the following ten steps that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
should undertake during her upcoming visit to the Caucasus region
to advance U.S. interests, promote American values, and strengthen
the Obama Administration's diplomatic standing in a pivotal region
of strategic importance.
Secretary Clinton is set to travel to the Caucasus from June 4 to 7 to
discuss issues of regional security, democracy, economic development
and counter-terrorism. She will visit Armenia on June 4, Georgia on
June 5, and Azerbaijan on June 6, prior to traveling to Turkey for
meetings on June 7. Read details about Secretary Clinton's travel
schedule in the Caucasus, visit.
http://www.state.gov/secretary/trvl/2012/191056.htm
10 Steps Toward a Successful Visit by Secretary Clinton to the
Caucasus:
1. A public announcement by Secretary Clinton that President Obama,
after more than three years in office, will finally honor his
promises to recognize the Armenian Genocide and to support the proper
recognition of this crime by the U.S. Congress.
2. An official visit to the Armenian Genocide memorial, during
which she honors her own pledges to recognize the Armenian Genocide,
renounces her assertion that the Armenian Genocide is a matter for
"historical debate," and asserts that the Administration will no longer
use the failed Turkey-Armenia Protocols as an excuse for complicity
in Ankara's genocide denial.
3. A clear statement distancing the U.S. from a recent NATO
declaration prioritizing the principle of territorial integrity over
self-determination in settling the status of Nagorno Karabakh, and
a commitment to strike, from a recently released State Department
report, the false assertion that Nagorno Karabakh is a part of
Azerbaijan, a Baku-backed claim that is directly at odds with
President Obama's pledge to work towards a durable settlement "based
upon America's founding commitment to the principles of democracy
and self determination."
4. A public retreat from the Administration's proposed 19% cut in
economic and democracy-building aid to Armenia, and a pledge to
both work with Congressional appropriators to honor the President's
promise to "maintain" aid levels to Armenia, and also to allocate
all unexpended aid that Congress has intended for Nagorno Karabakh.
5. A joint declaration with the Armenian government, in the spirit
of President Obama's promise to foster stronger U.S.-Armenia economic
relations, announcing talks to implement bilateral trade and investment
initiatives, including a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement,
a Double Tax Treaty, and a Free Trade Agreement.
6. A strong stand, during her visit to Azerbaijan, against the Aliyev
regime's escalating pattern of threats and renewed aggression against
Nagorno Karabakh, and a public announcement that the White House
will not waive Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act as long as
Baku fails to commit to a peaceful resolution of its conflict with
Nagorno Karabakh.
7. A withdrawal of the Administration's support, in light of Baku's
ongoing threats and acts of aggression, for the sale or transfer
of any and all arms or dual-use items to Azerbaijan, including the
controversial pending sale of advanced helicopter-based sensing
equipment.
8. A visit to investigate the medieval Armenian cemetery in Djulfa,
Nakhichevan, the site of thousands of intricate Armenian stone crosses
(khatchkars) systematically destroyed by the Azerbaijani military in
December of 2005, as documented on video-tape.
9. A public expression of U.S. support, during her trip to Georgia,
for targeted U.S. economic, development, and infrastructure assistance
programs and public-private partnerships for the Armenian-populated
Javakhk region of Georgia.
10. A trip to Stepanakert to demonstrate support for the OSCE Minsk
Group peace process, to press for the reinstatement of the Republic
of Nagorno Karabakh as a full participant in all negotiations, and to
underscore America's longstanding and proud tradition of supporting
the right of all peoples to democratic self-determination.