WASHINGTON—The Armenian National Committee of America has suggested the following ten steps that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton should undertake during her upcoming visit to the Caucasus region to advance U.S. interests, promote American values, and strengthen the Obama Administration’s diplomatic standing in a pivotal region of strategic importance.
Secretary Clinton is set to travel to the Caucasus from June 4 to 7 to discuss issues of regional security, democracy, economic development and counter-terrorism. She will visit Armenia on June 4, Georgia on June 5, and Azerbaijan on June 6, prior to traveling to Turkey for meetings on June 7. Read details about Secretary Clinton’s travel schedule in the Caucasus, visit.
http://www.state.gov/secretary/trvl/2012/191056.htm
10 Steps Toward a Successful Visit by Secretary Clinton to the Caucasus:
1. A public announcement by Secretary Clinton that President Obama, after more than three years in office, will finally honor his promises to recognize the Armenian Genocide and to support the proper recognition of this crime by the U.S. Congress.
2. An official visit to the Armenian Genocide memorial, during which she honors her own pledges to recognize the Armenian Genocide, renounces her assertion that the Armenian Genocide is a matter for “historical debate,” and asserts that the Administration will no longer use the failed Turkey-Armenia Protocols as an excuse for complicity in Ankara’s genocide denial.
3. A clear statement distancing the U.S. from a recent NATO declaration prioritizing the principle of territorial integrity over self-determination in settling the status of Nagorno Karabakh, and a commitment to strike, from a recently released State Department report, the false assertion that Nagorno Karabakh is a part of Azerbaijan, a Baku-backed claim that is directly at odds with President Obama’s pledge to work towards a durable settlement “based upon America’s founding commitment to the principles of democracy and self determination.”
4. A public retreat from the Administration’s proposed 19% cut in economic and democracy-building aid to Armenia, and a pledge to both work with Congressional appropriators to honor the President’s promise to “maintain” aid levels to Armenia, and also to allocate all unexpended aid that Congress has intended for Nagorno Karabakh.
5. A joint declaration with the Armenian government, in the spirit of President Obama’s promise to foster stronger U.S.-Armenia economic relations, announcing talks to implement bilateral trade and investment initiatives, including a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, a Double Tax Treaty, and a Free Trade Agreement.
6. A strong stand, during her visit to Azerbaijan, against the Aliyev regime’s escalating pattern of threats and renewed aggression against Nagorno Karabakh, and a public announcement that the White House will not waive Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act as long as Baku fails to commit to a peaceful resolution of its conflict with Nagorno Karabakh.
7. A withdrawal of the Administration’s support, in light of Baku’s ongoing threats and acts of aggression, for the sale or transfer of any and all arms or dual-use items to Azerbaijan, including the controversial pending sale of advanced helicopter-based sensing equipment.
8. A visit to investigate the medieval Armenian cemetery in Djulfa, Nakhichevan, the site of thousands of intricate Armenian stone crosses (khatchkars) systematically destroyed by the Azerbaijani military in December of 2005, as documented on video-tape.
9. A public expression of U.S. support, during her trip to Georgia, for targeted U.S. economic, development, and infrastructure assistance programs and public-private partnerships for the Armenian-populated Javakhk region of Georgia.
10. A trip to Stepanakert to demonstrate support for the OSCE Minsk Group peace process, to press for the reinstatement of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh as a full participant in all negotiations, and to underscore America’s longstanding and proud tradition of supporting the right of all peoples to democratic self-determination.
why bother, our governement officials will be pleased enough to have their elections legitimized by her visit.
I thought ANCA was run by more serious people than these suggested steps imply. Are you kidding me ? Do you live on another planet ? What is most infuriating is that by such announcements we are only misinforming our public, creating false and unrealistic expectations which left unfulfilled ,in turn create deep disappointment , alienation and feeling of victimization among Armenians.We are far more serious people than this!
It’s not Mrs. Clinton’s fault, she is in the business of selling Armenian Blood For Less, if Armenian government follows the game of failed Turkey-Armenia Protocols, than it is not her fault it is Armenians fault, she is in “Busness as Usual¨ mode.
It is her FAULT. A diplomat must be neutral,unbaised,TRUTHFUL,when dealing with so many countries,representing American policies,not her own baksheesch agenda.She was in turkee,and expresses,that the Armenian Genocide,was not Genocide i.e.like a misunderstanding,or another stupid remark.One milliion and a half people were murdered.She just used the turko spin on the subject,their discreditable mindset,so she walks away with their putrid smell too.
lets see will she do or not or part
I now that Armenia has a lot of short comings- one sees the way in Yervan illegal constructions being carried out or how bad the public transportation system is ( with china’s min busses is getting even worse!)
Any Way: Armenian NGO´s and civil society organization should NOT allow being abused by foreign powers to manipulate Armenia- US should respect Armenia- which has to have very good relationship with Iran and Russia (and US too)- I hope Clinton will recognize and respect that Armenia is an independent state , able to develop its own foreign policy taking the geo political situation in the region into account
Hillary Clinton should not even be allowed to visit the genocide memorial unless she first forthrightly acknowledges the genocide. This policy should be announced beforehand by the Armenian government as a slap in the face to this completely amoral woman.
Clintometer or Hillameter as compared to Obameter? 9/10 should do to compensate the failures
of the White House resident,as the Obameter shows only 1/10 of President Obama’s fulfilled
promised pledges!!!
Let me add point number 11.
“Stop Dreaming.”
Do you think that Clinton will do/did point number 1 with her openly pro-Turkish stance, for all this years that you have 10 points for her to comply?
Garo, my friend, it was the Martin Luther King’s ” I have a dream ” that turned President Barack Hussein Obama the current US President! If you believe in something, just stick to it, act wisely, be patient and steadfast despite opposition, difficulty or stark adversity- Point No. 12: Don’t just criticize , ACT with a viable strategy and calculated risk to make our Great Armenian Dream come true!
Even in the most antagonistic political relationships, always a door is kept open for back channel communication. We seem to have all but given up on the current administration. What if President Obama is re-elected in November for another term? What do we do then? Do we come up then with another ten-point check list how to keep our hopes alive for another 4 years?
ANCA is in a leadership position in our community and I hope they realize the seriousness of our expectations as far as Hai Tad is concerned. They are doing a great job but on such occasions,as outlined in this article, I wonder whether they know what they are doing.