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ANCA: Sens. Sarbanes, Boxer Question US Amb. Designate to Azerbaijan

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  • ANCA: Sens. Sarbanes, Boxer Question US Amb. Designate to Azerbaijan

    Armenian National Committee of America
    1711 N Street NW
    Washington, DC 20036
    Tel: (202) 775-1918
    Fax: (202) 775-5648
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Internet: www.anca.org

    PRESS RELEASE
    May 17, 2006
    Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
    Tel: (202) 775-1918


    SENATORS SARBANES AND BOXER QUESTION U.S. AMBASSADOR DESIGNATE TO
    AZERBAIJAN ON DESTRUCTION OF HISTORIC DJULFA CEMETERY; MISGUIDED
    EFFORT TO BREAK MILITARY AID PARITY

    -- Ambassador Designate Anne Derse Pledges No U.S. Financial
    Support for Railway Bypassing Armenia; Defends Administration Call
    to Break Military Aid Parity

    WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Ambassador Designate to Azerbaijan Anne Derse
    responded to questions by Senate Foreign Relations Committee member
    Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), today, on a series of U.S. policy concerns
    focusing on Azerbaijan's belligerent attitude toward Armenia and
    Nagorno Karabagh, as well as the Administration's budget request,
    which would break military assistance parity to Armenia and
    Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
    (ANCA). Senators Sarbanes and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) had submitted
    the questions during the May 12th Senate Foreign Relations Committee
    confirmation hearing, led by Chairman Richard Lugar (R-IN).

    In response to a question by Sen. Sarbanes expressing concern about
    the Bush Administration's FY 2007 budget request which would
    provide over 40% more military assistance to Azerbaijan than
    Armenia, Ambassador Designate Derse defended the decision, stating
    that "we do not believe that the slight differences in military
    assistance . . . undermine prospects for peace or send the wrong
    message."

    Derse was echoing a similar response by Secretary of State
    Condoleeza Rice, again to a question by Sen. Sarbanes at a Senate
    hearing in February 2006. Secretary Rice had noted that "the minor
    increase in FMF [Foreign Military Finance] for Azerbaijan as
    proposed in the President's budget request in January does not
    signal any change in the U.S. position on Nagorno-Karabakh."

    Sen. Boxer specifically questioned Derse about the U.S. response to
    the Azerbaijani destruction of the historic Armenian cemetery of
    Djulfa in the Azerbaijani controlled region of Nakhichevan.
    Azerbaijani soldiers decimated the cemetery, which included
    thousands of cross-stone carvings, known as "khatchkars," in
    December 2005. The ANCA had urged U.S. Ambassador Reno Harnish to
    visit the site and investigate the demolition. Sen. Boxer asked if
    Derse would "visit the cemetery site and commit yourself to
    investigating the demolition of this unique cemetery." Derse has
    yet to submit a response to Senator Boxer's inquiries.

    "We would like to thank Senators Sarbanes and Boxer for raising key
    concerns about the destruction of Djulfa and military parity
    agreement with Ambassador Designate Derse," stated ANCA Executive
    Director Aram Hamparian. "We remain troubled by the
    Administration's retreat from its 2001 agreement to maintain
    military aid parity and are hopeful the Congressional appropriators
    will honor this agreement to ensure military aid balance to the
    region." The House Foreign Operations Subcommittee is set to
    discuss the issue during their mark-up of the FY 2007 foreign aid
    bill scheduled for this Friday, May 19th.

    In response to Sen. Sarbanes' question on efforts toward regional
    economic integration in the Caucasus, Derse noted that the "opening
    of the border between Turkey and Armenia would contribute to the
    economies of both countries," but made no reference to the 18-year
    Azerbaijani blockade of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. Derse did,
    however, make specific mention of recent efforts to build a railway
    line connecting Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan, stating "because
    the proposed railway would bypass Armenia, and thus not be
    beneficial to regional integration, we have no plans to support
    such a railway financially." Legislation restricting U.S. aid to
    the railway project due to the exclusion of Armenia has been
    introduced by Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Robert Menendez (D-
    NJ) and has the support of Senate Deputy Majority Whip Wayne Allard
    (R-CO). Similar legislation in the House has been introduce by
    Reps. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and George
    Radanovich (R-CA) and currently has 82 cosponsors.

    In her response, Derse reiterated the State Department's support
    for "the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan" and noted, "the
    future status of Nagorno Karabakh is a matter of negotiations
    between the parties." She stressed that both the presidents of
    Armenia and Azerbaijan have been forewarned that "any attempt at a
    military solution to the conflict would only deepen its tragic
    impact."

    During the hearing, Chairman Lugar, who has visited the Caucasus
    and met with former Azerbaijani President Geydar Aliyev, expressed
    concerns about democracy in Azerbaijan and transparency associated
    with the large influx of oil-wealth into that country. Derse
    responded that "promotion of democracy, freedom and human rights is
    indeed a top priority in our relationship with Azerbaijan," and
    went on to express a commitment to "working to promote transparent
    and accountable government, an independent judiciary and parliament
    -- promotion of basic freedoms, including religious freedom and
    freedom of assembly."

    Anne Derse is a Foreign Service Officer with more than a quarter
    century of experience. She most recently served as Director for
    Biodefense Policy at the Homeland Security Council. Her prior
    postings have included service as Minister Counselor for Economic
    Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq and at the U.S. Mission to the
    European Union. Ms. Derse also has held posts in the Philippines,
    South Korea, Belgium, and Singapore, among other locations.

    The complete text of Sen. Sarbanes' questions and Derse's responses
    are provided below.

    #####

    Questions for the Record Submitted to
    Ambassador-Designate Anne Derse
    By Senator Paul Sarbanes
    Senate Foreign Relations Committee
    May 12, 2006


    Question:

    What steps will you take in response to President Aliyev's
    increasingly belligerent rhetoric and actions, such as his threats
    to restart the war against Nagorno-Karabakh, his call for a return
    of Nagorno-Karabakh "no matter what it takes," and his proposals
    for vast increases in military spending? What impact do you
    believe such actions will have on the prospects for a negotiated
    settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh?

    Answer:

    We support the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and hold that
    the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh is a matter of negotiation
    between the parties. Despite promising indications at present,
    both Armenia and Azerbaijan have much to do to prepare their
    publics for the compromises any just agreement will entail. We
    have told the presidents of both countries that any attempt at a
    military solution to the conflict would only deepen its tragic
    impact.

    Although the Rambouillet meeting between the two presidents marked
    a temporary stall in negotiations, the process has gained momentum
    again with a series of individual visits by the Minsk Group Co-
    Chairs to the region. An agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh is within
    the grasp of the two presidents now. We believe that 2006 is the
    best window of opportunity for Presidents Aliyev and Kocharian to
    come to a mutually agreeable solution that will provide the basis
    for a lasting peace between their two countries. This will require
    acts of political courage by each president as they prepare their
    respective publics for a peace settlement. We hope the presidents
    will seize the opportunity to reach a peaceful settlement of the
    conflict soon so that the important work of post-conflict
    reconstruction and stabilization can begin.

    If confirmed, I plan to continue to work toward a settlement, along
    with my colleagues at the Department of State.

    ========================================== =======================
    Question:

    Despite U.S. and international calls for regional cooperation and
    economic integration, Turkey and Azerbaijan continue their illegal
    decade-long blockade of land-locked Armenia. Azerbaijan and Turkey
    are now escalating this policy of isolation by planning to build a
    railroad line to connect Turkey and Azerbaijan, excluding Armenia.

    There is currently legislation pending that would prevent any U.S.
    financing of the approximately $800 million venture. Do you intend
    to raise concerns about the railway? What steps will you take to
    end Azerbaijan's blockade of Armenia?

    Answer:

    The U.S. Government strongly encourages regional integration in the
    Caucasus. Removing trade barriers would improve regional
    integration and enhance economic cooperation and development within
    and beyond the region. Regional integration should, of course,
    include all countries of the region. We have long believed that
    opening the border between Turkey and Armenia would contribute to
    the economies of both countries and to such important broader areas
    as energy security for Europe and Eurasia.

    Because the proposed railway would bypass Armenia, and thus not be
    beneficial to regional integration, we have no plans to support
    such a railway financially. If confirmed, I will strongly support
    the Administration's efforts to pursue regional integration for all
    countries in the region.

    ========================================= ========================
    Question:

    In the aftermath of September 11th, Congress granted the President
    limited and conditional authority to waive Section 907 of the
    Freedom Support Act, with the understanding that the administration
    would ensure military parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
    However, in this year's budget, the President requested over $1
    million more in military aid for Azerbaijan than for Armenia. On
    what basis has the administration decided to depart from its
    previous commitment to provide equal amounts of military assistance
    for Armenia and Azerbaijan?

    Answer:

    It is U.S. policy to ensure that our security assistance to Armenia
    and Azerbaijan does not affect the military balance between the two
    states, but it is not the Administration's view that military
    funding levels for Armenia and Azerbaijan should be identical. As
    Secretary Rice said recently in testimony before the House Foreign
    Operations Subcommittee on Appropriations, we believe slight
    differences in military assistance can be tolerated between Armenia
    and Azerbaijan. The waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support
    Act every year since 2002 has allowed us to provide military
    assistance that enhances Azerbaijan's interoperability with NATO
    and U.S. forces and furthers U.S. peacekeeping objectives, as well
    as assistance aimed at advancing democratic and market economic
    reform. Assistance to Armenia for similar purposes requires no
    waiver.

    As a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, our goal is to help Armenia
    and Azerbaijan achieve a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-
    Karabakh conflict. Military assistance to both countries in light
    of that ongoing conflict is carefully considered and calibrated to
    ensure that it does not hamper ongoing efforts to negotiate a
    peaceful settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

    Progress is being made in the negotiation process and we continue
    to view 2006 as the best window for the sides to reach an
    agreement. At the same time, we are strongly urging the presidents
    to prepare their publics for peace. We do not believe that the
    slight differences in military assistance in the FY 2007 budget
    request undermine prospects for peace or send the wrong message.

    ======================================== =========================
    Question:

    Do you believe that Azerbaijan deserved to be elected to the UN
    Human Rights Council? How did the U.S. vote on Azerbaijan's
    candidacy? What steps will you take to improve respect for human
    rights in Azerbaijan?

    Answer:

    The vote of the United States on these issues is always
    confidential. We stand ready to work with all the new members of
    the UN Human Rights Council. We will urge Azerbaijan will use this
    opportunity to fulfill its commitments to make real progress on
    advancing democracy and improve fundamental respect for human
    rights both domestically and throughout the world. If confirmed, I
    will continue to urge the Government of Azerbaijan to fulfill its
    own human rights commitments, and will look for opportunities to
    advance this effort through diplomacy, programs, and other
    measures.
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