[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 46 (Thursday, April 17, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E705]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  UNITED STATES RESUMES AID TO TURKEY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. GEORGE P. RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 17, 1997

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, April 16, 1997, President 
Clinton notified Congress that he will be invoking the national 
security waiver clause in the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act, therefore 
resuming United States aid to Turkey despite that country's immoral 
blockade of humanitarian assistance to Armenia. This course marks a 
continued failure by the administration to grasp the deep distress 
Armenia and its people are suffering as a result of Turkey's cruel 4-
year blockade. There is neither grounds for Turkey's blockade of 
Armenia, nor any overriding policy objective cited by the 
administration which legitimizes this injustice.
  Recently, I was honored to visit Armenia. I know first-hand of the 
courageous efforts of Armenia's leaders to move forward with market 
reforms and policies designed to foster political and economic 
integration with Western institutions and economies. I am committed to 
encouraging this process, and I believe it is disgraceful that the 
administration turns a blind-eye to policies that suffocate a land so 
rich in potential. The Clinton administration has correctly articulated 
the U.S. foreign policy objectives in the Caucasus region are 
stability, peace, democracy and economic prosperity. Unfortunately, 
with yesterday's waiver, the administration demonstrated its inability 
to recognize the means for achieving these ends. By assisting in the 
enforcement of this blockade, President Clinton has sentenced Armenia 
and her people to another painful year.

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