Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Congressmen
Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) have addressed a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell calling to urge Turkish authorities to lift its blockade of Armenia in the course of his coming visit to Ankara. The letter in particular noted that "Turkey has not reciprocated the good faith efforts of Armenia relative to the Reconciliation Commission". Commenting the Congressmen's letter to the State Secretary Armenian Assembly Executive Director John Jamian agreed with the Co-Chairs that International Monetary Fund assistance to Turkey and Turkey's accession to European Union should be conditioned upon lifting its blockade, establishing diplomatic relations and finally coming to terms with the Armenian Genocide."