[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 23, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. CHARLES E. SCHUMER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 17, 1998

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4569) making 
     appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and 
     related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     1999, and for other purposes:

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to join my colleagues in 
strong support of maintaining Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act in 
the Foreign Operations Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1999. Section 907 
was enacted in 1992 in response to Azerbaijan's illegal blockades of 
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh, and it remains a vital tool in United 
States policy towards the Caucasus.
  Section 907 does not prohibit humanitarian aid, democracy building 
assistance, commercial assistance to United States businesses, or non-
proliferation and disarmament assistance to Azerbaijan. It merely 
restricts direct government to government economic and military 
assistance to a regime known for their human rights abuses and 
corruption within the government. Azerbaijan has received over $130 
million in United States humanitarian aid since 1992, and will continue 
to do so; however, it is essential that we maintain Section 907 as a 
matter of United States foreign policy in the region.
  The Government of Azerbaijan has restricted the transport of food, 
fuel, medicine, and other essential supplies to Armenia and Nagorno-
Karabagh. Even after the devastating earthquakes in 1994, Azerbaijan 
failed to take any measures aimed at easing these blockades. Section 
907 has not even stopped United States oil companies from sharing in 
the wealth of Azerbaijan oil resources.
  The decision to lift Section 907 is left in the hands of the 
Government of Azerbaijan. When they begin to take the necessary steps 
toward lifting their destructive blockades of Armenia and Nagorno-
Karabagh, then and only then should the repeal of Section 907 be 
considered.

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