NORA REVIEW OF BUSH ADMINISTRATI

NORA REVIEW OF BUSH ADMINISTRATION
ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON ARMENIAN ISSUES

NORA RELEASES REVIEW OF BUSH ADMINISTRATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON ARMENIAN ISSUES

Washington, DC (1/8/04): The National Organization of Republican Armenians (NORA) today released a favorable review of the Bush Administration's accomplishments on issues of special importance to Armenian American voters.

"We are pleased to share the many positive contributions of this Administration - under the leadership of President George W. Bush - on issues of concern to Armenian American voters," said NORA Chairwoman Melanie Kerneklian. "Although this Administration - like many before it - has been unable to meet all of our expectations, we are encouraged by the President's support for Armenia and Armenian Americans and look forward to remaining actively engaged with his Administration."

The high level of Armenian American support for the Bush Administration was reflected recently in a NORA review of Armenian American contributions for the third quarter of 2003 (July-September), which reveals over a hundred and fifty-seven thousand dollars in campaign donations to the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign. The total for all of 2003 will, of course, be significantly higher. This represents a strong showing in terms of ethnic participation in the presidential election process.

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The Bush Administration's Record on Armenian American Issues

* Commemorating Armenian Remembrance Day

President Bush annually commemorates April 24th, Armenian Remembrance Day, with remarks noting the mass killings and forced exile of countless Armenians in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. Most recently, in his April 2003 statement, the President stressed: "the suffering that befell the Armenian people in 1915 is a tragedy for all humanity, which the world should not forget." Though falling short of formally declaring the Armenian Genocide a
genocide, President Bush has issued statements more strongly worded than past presidents.

* Promoting U.S.-Armenia trade and investment

The Bush Administration supports the crucial work of the U.S.-Armenia Economic Task Force, and backs the creation of a trade subcommittee of the Task Force to expand bilateral trade and
investment between the U.S. and Armenia. The level of overall U.S.-Armenia trade has increased every year during the Bush Administration.

* Secured Armenian membership in the World Trade Organization

The Bush Administration helped secure Armenia's membership in the World Trade Organization and is encouraging Congress to move forward with legislation granting Armenia permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status.

* Supporting foreign aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh

During its first term, the Bush Administration approved over three hundred million dollars in assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, helping the Armenian people to build a secure, prosperous, and democratic future. For details about the benefits of U.S. programs in Armenia, visit: http://www.usa.am/assistance/. Though this administration has reduced the amount of aid to Armenia and the Newly Independent States (NIS), aid to Armenia has increased as a percentage of total NIS assistance.

* Pressuring Turkey to lift its blockade

The Bush Administration has pressed Turkey to restore economic, political and cultural links with Armenia, and is encouraging Turkey to open its border with Armenia. In an October 7, 2002 letter to the Congressional Armenian Caucus, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage noted: "such action would promote the economic development of both Turkey and Armenia."

* Supporting IMF and World Bank programs in Armenia

The Bush Administration continues to work with international financial institutions, like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, to assist Armenia in its transition to a free-market economy.

* Sending military aid to Armenia

The Bush Administration initiated the U.S. military aid program for Armenia, providing training and communications equipment for the Armenian armed forces. The Administration maintained parity in the military aid levels to both Armenia and Azerbaijan, and implemented safeguards (Presidential Determination No. 2004-18) to ensure that U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan "will not undermine or hamper ongoing efforts to negotiate a peaceful settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan or be used for offensive purposes against Armenia."

* Making Armenian American appointments

The President appointed Joe Bogosian to a Deputy Assistant Secretary position at the Commerce Department, John Jamian to a key maritime position in the Department of Transportation, and Samuel Der-Yeghiayan as a Federal Judge in the Northern District of Illinois.

* Facilitating a Nagorno Karabagh peace settlement

Within six months of taking office, the Bush Administration took the unprecedented initiative in organizing the summit meeting between Secretary of State Colin Powell and the Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan to facilitate the resolution of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict. Unfortunately, the summit's progress toward a peaceful settlement was subsequently derailed by Azerbaijani President Geidar Aliyev's refusal to honor the commitments he made
at Key West.

NORA works to expand the Republican Party's outreach into the Armenian American community and to encourage Armenians, at the local, state, and national levels, to become involved in shaping and advancing the Republican agenda. Armenian American Republicans interested in contacting the National Organization of Republican Armenians are encouraged to write to 1745 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 126, Washington, DC 20006, or to contact NORA via the internet at info@nora-dc.org.