The <strong>Armenia</strong>n Reporter | April 25, 2009<strong>National</strong>Washington briefingby Emil SanamyanObama, Biden toutgenocide preventionOn April 23, President BarackObama <strong>and</strong> Vice President JoeBiden both took part in eventsto mark Holocaust RemembranceDay.In a speech at the Capitol Rotunda,Mr. Obama stressed the importanceof confronting genocidedenial as well as working towardgenocide prevention.“We have the opportunity to commitourselves to resisting injustice,intolerance, <strong>and</strong> indifferencein whatever forms they may take,whether confronting those who telllies about history or doing everythingwe can to prevent <strong>and</strong> endatrocities,” the president said.Genocide prevention should betreated “not just as a moral imperative,”but also as a “national securitypriority,” Vice President Bidensaid in remarks at a U.S. HolocaustMemorial Museum event.Responding to genocide is “strategicallynecessary,” he said. “Whengenocide goes unchecked America’scredibility <strong>and</strong> leadership is tarnished.”U.S. endorses <strong>Armenia</strong>-Turkey talksVice President Joe Biden telephonedPresident Serge Sargsiantwice this week to discuss <strong>Armenia</strong>’stalks with Turkey, <strong>and</strong> theState Department encouraged thetwo countries to reach “normalization[of relations] without preconditions<strong>and</strong> within a reasonabletimeframe.”According to the <strong>Armenia</strong>n president’soffice, the first conversationtook place on April 20. Just twodays later the <strong>Armenia</strong>n <strong>and</strong> Turkishforeign ministries issued a jointstatement. That April 22 statementcommitted <strong>Armenia</strong> <strong>and</strong> Turkey tocontinued talks on normalizationof relations in accordance with a“road map” that has not yet beenmade public. The same day, theState Department welcomed thedevelopment in a press release.In a follow-up call on April 23, Mr.Biden welcomed the “statement regarding[<strong>Armenia</strong>’s <strong>and</strong> Turkey’s]commitment to normalize their relations,”the White House press officereported the same day. He also“applauded President Sargsian’sleadership, <strong>and</strong> underscored theAdministration’s firm support forboth <strong>Armenia</strong> <strong>and</strong> Turkey in thisprocess.”Clinton-era officialre-appointed as U.S.’Caspian envoyOn April 20 Ambassador RichardMorningstar was appointed SpecialEnvoy for Eurasian Energy to“provide the Secretary [of State]with strategic advice on policy issuesrelating to development, transit,<strong>and</strong> distribution of energy resourcesin Eurasia.”Amb. Morningstar alreadyworked in similar capacity in1998–99, before being appointedU.S. ambassador to the EuropeanUnion (1999–2001). In 1995–98,Mr. Morningstar was the official incharge of U.S. aid programs in theformer Soviet republics. In recentyears he was an adjunct lecturer atHarvard <strong>and</strong> Stanford universities.Amb. Morningstar is now likelyto focus on what is known as theNabucco gas pipeline – intendedto link non-Russian gas producerssuch as Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan,<strong>and</strong> possibly Iran to Europeanconsumers via pipelines that don’tcross Russia <strong>and</strong> thus reduce Europe’sdependence on that country.In recent months, the Nabuccoscheme came under greater strainas Azerbaijan hinted it might sellits natural gas to Russia, <strong>and</strong> Turkeysought to use the project asleverage in its talks with the EU,which has already authorized someinitial funding for the gas pipeline.fHillary Clinton plays up <strong>Armenia</strong>-Turkey, Karabakh talksby Emil SanamyanWASHINGTON – Secretary ofState Hillary Clinton this weekexpressed optimism about <strong>Armenia</strong>-Turkeytalks <strong>and</strong> the Karabakhpeace process. Speaking justhours before <strong>Armenia</strong>n GenocideCommemoration Day in hearingsheld by congressional committees,Mrs. Clinton did not refer to <strong>and</strong>was not asked about the genocide.Like predecessor CondoleezzaRice before her, Mrs. Clintononly alluded to the Genocide as“shared tragic history” that needsto be addressed by <strong>Armenia</strong>ns <strong>and</strong>Turks.At the House Foreign Affairscommittee on April 22, the subjectof <strong>Armenia</strong> was brought up by TurkeyCaucus co-chair Rep. RobertWexler (D.-Fla.) who asked about“possible extraordinary breakthroughs”between <strong>Armenia</strong> <strong>and</strong>Turkey. Turkish officials <strong>and</strong> theirWashington lobbyists have beenplaying up the likelihood of sucha “breakthrough” for weeks, whilesimultaneously warning U.S. leadersnot to refer to the Genocide, asthat might prevent the would-be“breakthroughs.”Mrs. Clinton responded that shehas “been very encouraged by thebold steps that have recently beentaken by Turkish <strong>and</strong> <strong>Armenia</strong>nleaders to reconcile their countrieswith each other <strong>and</strong> with theirshared <strong>and</strong> painful past.” She didnot specify the “bold steps,” addingthat the United States has beenasked to <strong>and</strong> was supporting <strong>Armenia</strong>-Turkey“reconciliation” efforts.(The hearing was held just beforethe <strong>Armenia</strong>-Turkey statementwas made public. See page 1 <strong>and</strong>below.)The Karabakh conflictMr. Wexler also asked about theKarabakh conflict. In response,Mrs. Clinton said the United StatesPres. Obama atthe Holocaustmemorial eventon Apr. 23 WhiteHouse photo.Vice Pres. Biden on Apr. 23. White House.has “assured the government ofAzerbaijan that we will intensifyour efforts to resolve the conflictover Nagorno-Karabakh <strong>and</strong> otheroutst<strong>and</strong>ing issues between Azerbaijan<strong>and</strong> <strong>Armenia</strong>.”She promised that the UnitedStates would continue to be “deeplyengaged” through the OSCE MinskGroup, adding that she hoped that“there will be some resolution in thenext month.”Asked about that latter comment,Deputy Assistant Secretaryof State Matt Bryza declined tocomment on the secretary’s statedtimeframe, but said that he, alongwith the French <strong>and</strong> Russian envoysfor Karabakh talks “welcomecontinuing progress in efforts with<strong>Armenia</strong> <strong>and</strong> Azerbaijan to resolvethe final differences in the BasicPrinciples for a Nagorno-Karabakhsettlement.”In a comment to the <strong>Armenia</strong>nReporter, Mr. Bryza added, “Thepresidents of <strong>Armenia</strong> <strong>and</strong> Azerbaijanare demonstrating mutualrespect for each other, as they engagein give-<strong>and</strong>-take discussionsthat are gaining momentum.”Foreign aidAlso at the hearing, committeemember Rep. Brad Sherman (D.-Calif.) suggested that the UnitedStates should increase aid to <strong>Armenia</strong><strong>and</strong> either “eliminate or at leastmaintain parity” in military aid toAzerbaijan; the secretary of statewas expected to respond to that issuein writing.On April 23, Mrs. Clintonspoke to the House Foreign OperationsSubcommittee, whichauthorizes foreign affairs funding,to request an additional $7billion for State Department <strong>and</strong>foreign operations as part of an$84 billion in supplemental fundingrequest for wars in Afghanistan<strong>and</strong> Iraq.The supplemental also included“assistance for Georgia that theMorningstar. AFP.Hillary Clinton during April 22 HouseForeign Affairs Committee hearing.prior administration promisedthat we believe we should fulfill,”Mrs. Clinton said in a preparedstatement. Shortly after the warlast August, the Bush administrationpledged $1 billion in aid toGeorgia.fTurkey, <strong>Armenia</strong> acknowledge that border will not be opened soonn Continued from page Mr. Erdogan’s announcement effectivelyruled out the normalizationof relations with <strong>Armenia</strong> inthe foreseeable future.In the run-up to April 24, Yerevan,Ankara, <strong>and</strong> Washingtonrepeatedly indicated that a dealon opening the border was imminent.Asked in Istanbul on April 6about pre-election pledges that aspresident he would recognize the<strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide, Mr. Obamahad argued that talks between<strong>Armenia</strong> <strong>and</strong> Turkey could “bearfruit very quickly very soon” <strong>and</strong>he did not want to “tilt” in favor ofeither side, presumably by speakingc<strong>and</strong>idly about the <strong>Armenia</strong>nGenocide.In testimony before the HouseForeign Affairs Committee on April22, Secretary of State Hillary RodhamClinton said she had “beenvery encouraged by the bold stepsthat have recently been taken byTurkish <strong>and</strong> <strong>Armenia</strong>n leaders toreconcile their countries with eachother <strong>and</strong> with their shared <strong>and</strong>painful past.”The joint statement on April22 reported “tangible progress<strong>and</strong> mutual underst<strong>and</strong>ing,” butmade it clear that Mr. Obama’shopes that the talks would “bearfruit very quickly” were not justified.ARF prepares to quitgovernmentThe <strong>Armenia</strong>n RevolutionaryFederation prepared to withdrawfrom <strong>Armenia</strong>’s coalition governmentin protest. In a statementon April 23, it condemned thetiming of the joint statement <strong>and</strong>what it called “a negative changein the direction of <strong>Armenia</strong>’s foreignpolicy.”The party controls the ministriesof education, agriculture, <strong>and</strong> socialsecurity <strong>and</strong> 16 seats in the 131-seat <strong>National</strong> Assembly. Its withdrawalwill not cause the collapseTurkey <strong>and</strong> <strong>Armenia</strong>, togetherwith Switzerl<strong>and</strong> as mediator,have been working intensivelywith a view to normalizing theirbilateral relations <strong>and</strong> developingthem in a spirit of good-neighborliness,<strong>and</strong> mutual respect,<strong>and</strong> thus to promoting peace, security<strong>and</strong> stability in the wholeregion.The two parties have achievedtangible progress <strong>and</strong> mutual underst<strong>and</strong>ingin this process <strong>and</strong>they have agreed on a comprehensiveframework for the normalizationof their bilateral relations in aof the four-party coalition, butwill significantly exp<strong>and</strong> the parliamentaryopposition, which nowincludes only the Heritage Party,with 6 seats.fJoint Statement of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of theRepublic of <strong>Armenia</strong>, the Republic of Turkey <strong>and</strong> the SwissFederal Department of Foreign Affairsmutually satisfactory manner. Inthis context, a road-map has beenidentified.This agreed basis provides apositive prospect for the on-goingprocess.22 April 2009
The <strong>Armenia</strong>n Reporter | April 25, 2009<strong>International</strong><strong>Armenia</strong>n Caucusco-chair Rep.Mark Kirk (R.-Ill.) addressesthe congressionalcommemorationof the <strong>Armenia</strong>nGenocide onApril 22, withother memberswaiting theirturn, from left:Caucus foundingco-chair Rep.Frank Pallone, Jr.(D.-N.J.), Reps.Jackie Speier(D.-Calif.), JimMcGovern (D.-Mass.), AdamSchiff (D.-Calif.)<strong>and</strong> Ed Royce(R.-Calif.) Photo:<strong>Armenia</strong>nReporter.In comments on April 22 Rep. Tim Walz (D.-Minn.) said he was disappointedwhen President Obama missed an opportunity to state his position on the<strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide during his recent trip to Turkey. Photo: <strong>Armenia</strong>n Reporter.Rep. Jim Langevin (D.-R.I.) did not miss the congressional commemoration of the<strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide even though April 22 is his birthday. At the commemoration,he was recognized by Speaker Pelosi for his commitment to <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocideaffirmation. Photo: <strong>Armenia</strong>n Reporter.Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressing at the annual congressional commemoration of the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide on April 22. Shecalled for “mass mobilization” to surmount opposition to the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide resolution but did not pledge to act on themeasure now backed by more than 100 members of the House of Representatives. Photo: <strong>Armenia</strong>n Reporter.House MajorityLeader Rep.Steny Hoyer(D.-Md.) saidhe would againco-sponsor the<strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocideresolution.He would notrespond directlywhen asked bythe <strong>Armenia</strong>nReporter whetherthe congressionalleadership wasready to disagreewith the Obamaadministrationon the genocideresolution, ifnecessary, sayinghe remainedhopeful therewould be nodisagreements.Photo: <strong>Armenia</strong>nReporter.
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