US Policy in Region Aimed at Activation and Cooperation, Not at Isolation

PanARMENIAN.Net - US policy in South Caucasus is aimed at promoting regional cooperation and normalization of relations instead of isolation, says a statement by US congressmen, co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, addressed to the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA). Earlier, the US president approved a bill banning state financing of the construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railroad. Earlier, the bill was passed by the House of Representatives, and then by the Senate. "We call upon Turkey to revise the policy of alienating Armenia, put an end to the 13-year-old blockade and take actions directed at cooperation with its neighbors," the statement says.



The document contains an amendment proposed by Senators Robert Menendez and Rick Santorini, which rules out financing by the Export-Import Bank of the construction of the railway that would isolate Armenia from the economic and regional transport corridor with average estimated cost of $400 mln. Adoption of the amendment is part of the AAA lobbying directed against isolation of Armenia. In his turn, AAA Executive Director Bryan Ardouny highly appreciated the role of the senators and congressmen in "implementing this important initiative," namely in fighting Turkey and Azerbaijan's attempts to isolate Armenia. The initiative is one of numerous measures to secure safety and wealth of Armenia. He expressed gratitude to organizations and persons, who combined their effort with the Armenian Diaspora of the United States. The Armenian Assembly of America welcomed inaction of the bill banning financing of the railroad joining Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia bypassing Armenia.