Announcement

Collapse

Forum Rules (Everyone Must Read!!!)

1] What you CAN NOT post.

You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this forum to post any material which is:
- abusive
- vulgar
- hateful
- harassing
- personal attacks
- obscene

You also may not:
- post images that are too large (max is 500*500px)
- post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or cited properly.
- post in UPPER CASE, which is considered yelling
- post messages which insult the Armenians, Armenian culture, traditions, etc
- post racist or other intentionally insensitive material that insults or attacks another culture (including Turks)

The Ankap thread is excluded from the strict rules because that place is more relaxed and you can vent and engage in light insults and humor. Notice it's not a blank ticket, but just a place to vent. If you go into the Ankap thread, you enter at your own risk of being clowned on.
What you PROBABLY SHOULD NOT post...
Do not post information that you will regret putting out in public. This site comes up on Google, is cached, and all of that, so be aware of that as you post. Do not ask the staff to go through and delete things that you regret making available on the web for all to see because we will not do it. Think before you post!


2] Use descriptive subject lines & research your post. This means use the SEARCH.

This reduces the chances of double-posting and it also makes it easier for people to see what they do/don't want to read. Using the search function will identify existing threads on the topic so we do not have multiple threads on the same topic.

3] Keep the focus.

Each forum has a focus on a certain topic. Questions outside the scope of a certain forum will either be moved to the appropriate forum, closed, or simply be deleted. Please post your topic in the most appropriate forum. Users that keep doing this will be warned, then banned.

4] Behave as you would in a public location.

This forum is no different than a public place. Behave yourself and act like a decent human being (i.e. be respectful). If you're unable to do so, you're not welcome here and will be made to leave.

5] Respect the authority of moderators/admins.

Public discussions of moderator/admin actions are not allowed on the forum. It is also prohibited to protest moderator actions in titles, avatars, and signatures. If you don't like something that a moderator did, PM or email the moderator and try your best to resolve the problem or difference in private.

6] Promotion of sites or products is not permitted.

Advertisements are not allowed in this venue. No blatant advertising or solicitations of or for business is prohibited.
This includes, but not limited to, personal resumes and links to products or
services with which the poster is affiliated, whether or not a fee is charged
for the product or service. Spamming, in which a user posts the same message repeatedly, is also prohibited.

7] We retain the right to remove any posts and/or Members for any reason, without prior notice.


- PLEASE READ -

Members are welcome to read posts and though we encourage your active participation in the forum, it is not required. If you do participate by posting, however, we expect that on the whole you contribute something to the forum. This means that the bulk of your posts should not be in "fun" threads (e.g. Ankap, Keep & Kill, This or That, etc.). Further, while occasionally it is appropriate to simply voice your agreement or approval, not all of your posts should be of this variety: "LOL Member213!" "I agree."
If it is evident that a member is simply posting for the sake of posting, they will be removed.


8] These Rules & Guidelines may be amended at any time. (last update September 17, 2009)

If you believe an individual is repeatedly breaking the rules, please report to admin/moderator.
See more
See less

House Bill Seeks To Block Us Aid For Railroad Project Excluding Armenia

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

  • House Bill Seeks To Block Us Aid For Railroad Project Excluding Armenia

    HOUSE BILL SEEKS TO BLOCK US AID FOR RAILROAD PROJECT EXCLUDING
    ARMENIA

    WASHINGTON, JULY 21, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
    National Committee of America (ANCA) welcomes the introduction of
    legislation in the House of Representatives prohibiting
    U.S. assistance for the building of railroads traversing the Caucasus
    that circumvent Armenia. The measure, entitled the "South Caucasus
    Integration and Open Railroads Act of 2005," is being introduced by
    Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and George
    Radanovich (R- CA). "We welcome this effort to protect U.S. taxpayers
    from subsidizing an ill-advised and over-priced railroad project that
    - at the insistence of Turkey and Azerbaijan - has been designed to
    exclude Armenia," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the
    ANCA. "Constructing this railroad around Armenia runs directly counter
    to U.S. foreign policy and - as if that wasn't bad enough - makes
    absolutely no financial sense - which is precisely why its sponsors
    will surely turn to the American taxpayer to foot the bill." The text
    of the legislation notes "the exclusion of Armenia from regional
    economic and commercial undertakings in the South Caucasus undermines
    the United States policy goal of promoting a stable and cooperative
    environment in the region." In its operative section, the legislation
    prohibits U.S. assistance "to develop or promote any rail connections
    or railway-related connections that do not traverse or connect with
    Armenia, but do traverse or connect Baku, Azerbaijan; Tbilisi,
    Georgia; and Kars, Turkey." Specific forms of U.S. assistance
    prohibited would include: foreign economic and development aid,
    Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Trade and Development Agency,
    and the Export-Import Bank. The ANCA raised this issue publicly as
    early as June 10th of this year when Communications Director Elizabeth
    S. Chouldjian posed a question to the Foreign Minister of Armenia,
    Vardan Oskanian, during his briefing at a National Press Club.
    Minister Oskanian expressed the Armenian government's "concern about
    this recent consideration by Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey to build
    a new railroad from Kars to Tbilisi, linking to an existing
    Azerbaijani line. They are planning on spending something from $600
    million to $1 billion to put that railroad in place. The problem is
    that there is such a railroad in the region. There is an existing
    Kars, Gumri, which is an Armenian city, Tbilisi, and next to
    Azerbaijan. The railroad is sitting there, rusting now for fifteen
    years, because Turkey, for political reasons, does not allow the
    trains to cross the Turkish Armenian border. Now, having that in place
    and thinking of building a new one and spending $600 million is
    nonsense." He closed his comments, by stressing that, "It is in no
    one's interest - not the U.S. or European Union or the countries
    involved. I have raised this issue with the Administration and they
    understand, they promised to follow this, and to try to talk them out
    of engaging in this type of senseless, useless activity." In May of
    this year, the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliev, Georgian
    President Mikheil Saakashvili, and Turkey's President Akhmed Nedget
    Sezer announced their intention to construct the railway corridor
    linking Turkey, Tbilisi, and Baku. The project would effectively
    replace the Kars-Gyumri railroad route, which has been blockaded by
    Turkey for more than a decade. The governmental and commercial
    interests involved in the project, estimated at between $600 million
    and $1 billion, will almost certainly turn to the U.S. government for
    financial support, subsidies, favorable lending terms, and low-cost
    risk insurance, as they did for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline
    route.

  • #2
    Backers of bill prohibiting funding of Circular Railroad grows to 56

    The Library of Congress
    18 Nov 2005
    H.R.3361
    Title: To prohibit United States assistance to develop or promote any rail
    connections or railway-related connections that traverse or connect Baku,
    Azerbaijan; Tbilisi, Georgia; and Kars, Turkey, and that specifically
    exclude cities in Armenia.
    Sponsor: Rep Knollenberg, Joe [MI-9] (introduced 7/20/2005) Cosponsors
    (56)
    Latest Major Action: 8/24/2005 Referred to House subcommittee. Status:
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy,
    Trade, and Technology.

    COSPONSORS(56), BY DATE
    Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-6] - 7/20/2005Rep Radanovich, George [CA-19] -
    7/20/2005
    Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21] - 7/22/2005Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G.
    [MI-11] - 7/25/2005
    Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 7/25/2005Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] -
    7/25/2005
    Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 7/25/2005Rep Rogers, Mike [MI-8] - 7/25/2005
    Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] - 7/26/2005Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] -
    7/26/2005
    Rep Schwarz, John J.H. "Joe" [MI-7] - 7/27/2005Rep Neal, Richard E. [MA-2] -
    7/27/2005
    Rep Bilirakis, Michael [FL-9] - 7/28/2005Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] -
    7/28/2005
    Rep Visclosky, Peter J. [IN-1] - 7/29/2005Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] -
    9/6/2005
    Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] - 9/6/2005Rep Menendez, Robert [NJ-13] - 9/6/2005
    Rep Royce, Edward R. [CA-40] - 9/6/2005Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43] - 9/6/2005
    Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] - 9/6/2005Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9] -
    9/6/2005
    Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] - 9/7/2005Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] -
    9/8/2005
    Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 9/13/2005Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] -
    9/13/2005
    Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] - 9/13/2005Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47] - 9/13/2005
    Rep Miller, George [CA-7] - 9/13/2005Rep Sherman, Brad [CA-27] - 9/13/2005
    Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] - 9/13/2005Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-14] -
    9/14/2005
    Rep Miller, Gary G. [CA-42] - 9/15/2005Rep Levin, Sander M. [MI-12] -
    9/20/2005
    Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] - 9/21/2005Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] -
    9/27/2005
    Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] - 9/28/2005Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] -
    10/6/2005
    Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] - 10/6/2005Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] -
    10/17/2005
    Rep Matsui, Doris O. [CA-5] - 10/17/2005Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] -
    10/19/2005
    Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 10/25/2005Rep Napolitano, Grace F.
    [CA-38] - 11/1/2005
    Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] - 11/1/2005Rep Bradley, Jeb [NH-1] - 11/1/2005
    Rep Fitzpatrick, Michael G. [PA-8] - 11/2/2005Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] -
    11/7/2005
    Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 11/7/2005Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] - 11/15/2005
    Rep Meehan, Martin T. [MA-5] - 11/15/2005Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] -
    11/15/2005
    Rep Dent, Charles W. [PA-15] - 11/15/2005Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] -
    11/16/2005
    Rep Tauscher, Ellen O. [CA-10] - 11/17/2005Rep Solis, Hilda L. [CA-32] -
    11/17/2005

    Comment


    • #3
      Turkey, Azerbaijan Discuss Armenian Participation In Railway Project

      Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul had consultations on Monday with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku to discuss Armenian participation in the Kars-Javakheti (Ahilkelek)-Tbilisi-Baku railway project.
      No statement was made to the press following the 40-minute meeting between Gul and Aliyev, but the Anatolia news agency said the two had discussed recent developments in the railway project, which is planned to run from Turkey to Azerbaijan via Georgia.

      The foreign minister also said during the meeting that the transportation ministers of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia should exert efforts to overcome existing problems concerning the railway project, according to the Anatolia.

      Georgian officials reacted with caution to the reported Turkish and Azeri readiness to include Armenia in the project, with one official in Ankara saying that there would be no need to construct the railway at all if Armenia is included, since there is already a direct railway between Turkey and Armenia that is not used because of political disputes between Turkey and Armenia

      Gul reportedly said Georgia had "serious hesitations" about the project and suggested that Turkey could help eliminate its concerns. "Armenia can also join these projects if it wants," Gul was quoted as saying.

      The minister also said private companies in Kazakhstan were also displaying an interest in the railway project.

      The Azerbaijani leader reportedly gave a positive response to Ankara's proposal of Armenian participation in the project. He also said efforts should be started to implement the project without loans from the outside.

      The Kars-Javakheti (Ahilkelek)-Tbilisi-Baku railway project aims to set up a direct rail link between Turkey and Georgia, and between Turkey and Azerbaijan via Georgia. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia signed a memorandum of understanding on Dec. 28, 2004 to put the project into force. The parties then established a working group. In September 2005, Turkish, Azerbaijani and Georgian ministers gathered in Istanbul to discuss recent developments concerning the Kars-Javakheti (Ahilkelek)-Tbilisi-Baku railway project to devise concrete steps to actually carry out the project

      Turkish Daily News Jun 21, 2006
      Attached Files
      "All truth passes through three stages:
      First, it is ridiculed;
      Second, it is violently opposed; and
      Third, it is accepted as self-evident."

      Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Hovik
        The Library of Congress
        18 Nov 2005
        H.R.3361
        Title: To prohibit United States assistance to develop or promote any rail
        connections or railway-related connections that traverse or connect Baku,
        Azerbaijan; Tbilisi, Georgia; and Kars, Turkey, and that specifically
        exclude cities in Armenia.
        Sponsor: Rep Knollenberg, Joe [MI-9] (introduced 7/20/2005) Cosponsors
        (56)
        Latest Major Action: 8/24/2005 Referred to House subcommittee. Status:
        Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy,
        Trade, and Technology.

        COSPONSORS(56), BY DATE
        Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-6] - 7/20/2005Rep Radanovich, George [CA-19] -
        7/20/2005
        Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21] - 7/22/2005Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G.
        [MI-11] - 7/25/2005
        Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 7/25/2005Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] -
        7/25/2005
        Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 7/25/2005Rep Rogers, Mike [MI-8] - 7/25/2005
        Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] - 7/26/2005Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] -
        7/26/2005
        Rep Schwarz, John J.H. "Joe" [MI-7] - 7/27/2005Rep Neal, Richard E. [MA-2] -
        7/27/2005
        Rep Bilirakis, Michael [FL-9] - 7/28/2005Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] -
        7/28/2005
        Rep Visclosky, Peter J. [IN-1] - 7/29/2005Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] -
        9/6/2005
        Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] - 9/6/2005Rep Menendez, Robert [NJ-13] - 9/6/2005
        Rep Royce, Edward R. [CA-40] - 9/6/2005Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43] - 9/6/2005
        Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] - 9/6/2005Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9] -
        9/6/2005
        Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] - 9/7/2005Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] -
        9/8/2005
        Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 9/13/2005Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] -
        9/13/2005
        Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] - 9/13/2005Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47] - 9/13/2005
        Rep Miller, George [CA-7] - 9/13/2005Rep Sherman, Brad [CA-27] - 9/13/2005
        Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] - 9/13/2005Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-14] -
        9/14/2005
        Rep Miller, Gary G. [CA-42] - 9/15/2005Rep Levin, Sander M. [MI-12] -
        9/20/2005
        Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] - 9/21/2005Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] -
        9/27/2005
        Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] - 9/28/2005Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] -
        10/6/2005
        Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] - 10/6/2005Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] -
        10/17/2005
        Rep Matsui, Doris O. [CA-5] - 10/17/2005Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] -
        10/19/2005
        Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 10/25/2005Rep Napolitano, Grace F.
        [CA-38] - 11/1/2005
        Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] - 11/1/2005Rep Bradley, Jeb [NH-1] - 11/1/2005
        Rep Fitzpatrick, Michael G. [PA-8] - 11/2/2005Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] -
        11/7/2005
        Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 11/7/2005Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] - 11/15/2005
        Rep Meehan, Martin T. [MA-5] - 11/15/2005Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] -
        11/15/2005
        Rep Dent, Charles W. [PA-15] - 11/15/2005Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] -
        11/16/2005
        Rep Tauscher, Ellen O. [CA-10] - 11/17/2005Rep Solis, Hilda L. [CA-32] -
        11/17/2005
        It passed. The US will provide no funding to the new railroad.
        General Antranik (1865-1927): “I am not a nationalist. I recognize only one nation, the nation of the oppressed.”

        Comment


        • #5
          Thats what promted the rosy camel's tactical retreat!
          Attached Files
          "All truth passes through three stages:
          First, it is ridiculed;
          Second, it is violently opposed; and
          Third, it is accepted as self-evident."

          Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)

          Comment


          • #6
            The Railway Will Not Bypass Armenia

            THE RAILWAY WILL NOT BYPASS ARMENIA

            A1+
            [01:01 pm] 22 September, 2006

            Washington, DC - The Armenian Assembly today praised a key Senate
            committee for affirming U.S policy in the South Caucasus by prohibiting
            funding for a bypass rail link sponsored by the Turkish and Azerbaijani
            governments and aimed at excluding Armenia from economic and regional
            transportation opportunities.

            "Armenia is a valued friend of the United States and our government
            ought not to be supporting programs or initiatives in the South
            Caucasus that exclude that country from participation," said
            Santorum. "The manager's amendment adopted today by the Committee on
            Banking will make sure such a scenario does not happen."

            "We cannot continue to stoke the embers of regional conflict by
            supporting projects that deliberately exclude one of the region's most
            important members," said Menendez. "Fundamentally, this amendment is
            about fairness and about inclusion, rather than exclusion.

            With this amendment, we are sending a simple message -- that we believe
            that the United States should support an integrated and inclusive
            approach to economic and regional development in the Caucasus region."

            Comment

            Working...
            X