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PRESS
RELEASE
For Immediate Release ~ March 6, 1999
Contact: Lucy Keshishian
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SENIOR REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN ATTACKS ARMENIA AS "ANTI-AMERICAN"
AADLC Protests Against Bereuter's Assault on Armenian Americans
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Falls Church, VA: Nebraska Republican Congressman Doug Bereuter questioned the civic participation of Armenian Americans and threatened a wholesale reassessment of U.S. support for the Republic of Armenia during a hearing yesterday of the House International Relations Committee, reported the Armenian American Democratic Leadership Council (AADLC).
Bereuter made these comments during a hearing on the U.S. foreign aid budget, which featured testimony from Brian Atwood, Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development. During the hearing, Bereuter stated emphatically and for the record that:
"The Armenian lobby, which is so influential in California, has got about a year to try and change the anti-American, pro-Russian attitude in Armenia or there will be some changes made around here."
"We find it deeply troubling that any Congressman, especially one who receives major funding from multinational interests involved in both Turkey and Azerbaijan, would, in any way, question the right of American citizens of Armenian heritage to participate in the civic life of our country," said Souzi Zerounian-Khanzadian, AADLC's West Coast Coordinator.
Documents secured today from the Federal Election Commission reveal that Bereuter has received major campaign donations from oil and defense industry PACs affiliated with companies dealing with nations currently blockading landlocked Armenia - namely, Turkey and Azerbaijan. These include Mobil Corporation, Texaco, Occidental Petroleum, Amoco, Halliburton Energy, and Enron, in addition to a broad range of defense firms which do large scale business with Turkey.
"Armenian Americans proudly serve in our nation's military, have sacrificed greatly for our nation's freedom, and contribute to every area of American society. We certainly do not need lectures from Mr. Bereuter about our right as citizens to take part in the formulation of the laws which govern our nation or the principles which guide our foreign policy," added Zerounian-Khanzadian.
During his tenure in office, Congressman Bereuter has consistently opposed legislative initiative of concern to the Armenian American community. In September of 1998, Congressman Bereuter voted to send U.S. tax dollars to the corrupt and authoritarian Azerbaijani government of former KGB General Geidar Aliyev. In May of 1997, he voted in the International Relations Committee against the Sherman Amendment to send U.S. assistance to the people of Nagorno Karabagh. In 1996, he voted against sanctioning Turkey for its denial of the Armenian Genocide, and in 1995 he voted against placing human rights conditions on U.S. aid to Turkey. In both 1985 and 1987 he voted against the Armenian Genocide resolution and spoke out both years on the House floor about his "strong opposition" to this legislation.
In his 1985 speech on the House floor in opposition to the Genocide resolution, Bereuter also referred to the California Armenian community. His remarks, in part, read as follows:
Turkey, under its present Government, is one of our allies, and holds a vital place in the Western Alliance. Our purpose today should not be and is not to offend a friend.
"Turkey should, after all, recognize this resolution only for what it really is. While I emphatically do not question the motives of the sponsor or cosponsors of this resolution, it does reflect a partisan competition, primarily centered in California, for the support of the Armenian American community."
Congressman Bereuter can be reached by telephone at (202) 225-4806 or by fax at (202) 225-5686. His mailing address is: The Hon. Doug Bereuter, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20510.
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