Despite successful reforms, Armenia’s full economic potential cannot be realized as long as its eastern and western borders remain under blockade by Azerbaijan and Turkey.
The United States must ensure that concrete steps are taken to remove the blockades, thereby alleviating the economic hardships they cause.
Congress is urged to institute new report language requiring a full accounting of the steps the U.S. has taken and the responses therein to eliminate the Turkish and Azeri blockades of Armenia.
Ongoing attempts to isolate Armenia from regional projects, such as the Azeri-proposed rail bypass of Armenia, run counter to stated U.S. policy goals of regional cooperation and economic integration.
Azerbaijan’s President had this to say about the rail bypass: “If we succeed with this project, the Armenians will end in complete isolation, which would create an additional problem for their future, their already bleak future.”
Congress is urged to undertake measures that combat these counterproductive actions and ensure that Armenia has the resources to overcome such obstacles. For example, funding should be made available to provide for minor repairs needed to open the existing Kars-Gyumri rail link that connects Turkey, Armenia, and Georgia, which would serve to foster regional cooperation.
Energy security is fundamental to Armenia’s economic vitality.
During the past decade, strategic energy projects launched with U.S. support in the South Caucasus have created long-term development opportunities for most of the nations in the region.
However, these initiatives have not benefited Armenia, due to the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades.
Congress is urged, therefore, to utilize tools at its disposal to pave the way for Armenia’s full involvement in, and contribution to, existing and future energy and development projects in the region.
Congress is also urged to consider parallel U.S. assistance targeted to help Armenia address critical energy security needs through diversified and affordable sources of energy, including non-hydrocarbon, in order to reduce the risk of overdependence on limited regional routes or suppliers.
