Section 907 strengthened by the House Committee on Appropriations
Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act was strengthened by the House Committee on Appropriations when it approved the Fiscal Year 2010 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Act, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA).
The strengthening of Section 907 directs "that the Department of State consult with the Committees on Appropriations before exercising waiver for fiscal year 2010 to ensure that all conditions under the waiver are being fully met." The same bill also provides $48 million in assistance for Armenia and $10 million for Nagorno Karabakh.
The Assembly's efforts garnered results in Congress and the Committee has validated the importance of Section 907 by calling on all parties to "refrain from threats, incitement to the use of force, or other inflammatory rhetoric." The new language comes as cease-fire violations by Azerbaijan have increased in recent months. In testimony presented before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs in March of this year, Assembly Board of Trustees Member and Counselor Van Krikorian outlined the importance of Section 907 and expressed the Assembly's strong concerns regarding Azerbaijan's continued war rhetoric.
"As the Subcommittee is aware, in the aftermath of September 11th, pursuant to then-Secretary of State Colin Powell's request for flexibility to counter terrorist elements and organizations operating in Azerbaijan, Congress granted a conditional and limited waiver to Section
907. The conditional waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act makes it clear that any assistance provided shall not "undermine or hamper" the Karabakh peace process or "be used for offensive purposes against Armenia" or any "Armenian community in the Caucasus region."
While safeguards were built into the waiver, especially to safeguard against U.S. security assistance being used in a new Azeri ethnic cleansing campaign such as the one it began to start the war, the Assembly remains deeply troubled by the continued war rhetoric emanating from senior Azerbaijani officials, including its President. In addition, Azerbaijan has rejected Armenia's numerous proposals for economic and regional confidence-building measures, and has instead dramatically increased its military spending to levels equivalent to Armenia's entire national budget."
"Having initiated Section 907 and championed it since its inception, the Assembly welcomes the strengthening of this important provision and applauds the Committee for sending a strong message in the face of Azerbaijan's continued warmongering," stated Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. "By insisting that Turkey continue its blockade to force concessions in the Nagorno Karabakh peace process, Azerbaijan has taken a counter-productive stance with respect to the announced roadmap between Armenia and Turkey. This latest Congressional action helps restore the integrity of the peace process supported by U.S. mediators."
The report language also reaffirms the Committee's support for the policy of parity in military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as support for confidence building measures among the parties to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. A vote in the House is expected as early as next week.
The strengthening of Section 907 directs "that the Department of State consult with the Committees on Appropriations before exercising waiver for fiscal year 2010 to ensure that all conditions under the waiver are being fully met." The same bill also provides $48 million in assistance for Armenia and $10 million for Nagorno Karabakh.
The Assembly's efforts garnered results in Congress and the Committee has validated the importance of Section 907 by calling on all parties to "refrain from threats, incitement to the use of force, or other inflammatory rhetoric." The new language comes as cease-fire violations by Azerbaijan have increased in recent months. In testimony presented before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs in March of this year, Assembly Board of Trustees Member and Counselor Van Krikorian outlined the importance of Section 907 and expressed the Assembly's strong concerns regarding Azerbaijan's continued war rhetoric.
"As the Subcommittee is aware, in the aftermath of September 11th, pursuant to then-Secretary of State Colin Powell's request for flexibility to counter terrorist elements and organizations operating in Azerbaijan, Congress granted a conditional and limited waiver to Section
907. The conditional waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act makes it clear that any assistance provided shall not "undermine or hamper" the Karabakh peace process or "be used for offensive purposes against Armenia" or any "Armenian community in the Caucasus region."
While safeguards were built into the waiver, especially to safeguard against U.S. security assistance being used in a new Azeri ethnic cleansing campaign such as the one it began to start the war, the Assembly remains deeply troubled by the continued war rhetoric emanating from senior Azerbaijani officials, including its President. In addition, Azerbaijan has rejected Armenia's numerous proposals for economic and regional confidence-building measures, and has instead dramatically increased its military spending to levels equivalent to Armenia's entire national budget."
"Having initiated Section 907 and championed it since its inception, the Assembly welcomes the strengthening of this important provision and applauds the Committee for sending a strong message in the face of Azerbaijan's continued warmongering," stated Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. "By insisting that Turkey continue its blockade to force concessions in the Nagorno Karabakh peace process, Azerbaijan has taken a counter-productive stance with respect to the announced roadmap between Armenia and Turkey. This latest Congressional action helps restore the integrity of the peace process supported by U.S. mediators."
The report language also reaffirms the Committee's support for the policy of parity in military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as support for confidence building measures among the parties to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. A vote in the House is expected as early as next week.
