Enhance the U.S.–Armenia relationship

Published: Saturday May 26, 2007

The United States government closely watched Armenia's May 12 parliamentary elections. The continuation of one U.S. program, the $235,650,000 Millennium Challenge Compact, was explicitly tied to the conduct of the election. But in a broader sense, Armenia knew that the elections would determine whether the U.S.-Armenia relationship would move forward or take a pause.

As advocates of both democracy in Armenia and a vigorous relationship between the United States and Armenia, we were doubly pleased that Armenia's major political players followed through on their promises to conduct elections that substantially met democratic standards.

Now is the time to consolidate the progress that has been made and to move forward. This election should become a new milestone in the U.S.-Armenia relationship.

First, of course, we expect the board of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, chaired by the secretary of state, will in due course confirm that Armenia has met its contractual obligations under the Millennium Challenge Compact to register substantial progress in the conduct of the 2007 elections.

Second, it is an excellent time to increase the dialogue between the leadership in Armenia and the leadership in the United States. Visits by senior Armenian officials to the United States should start to occur more often.

Such visits are important symbolically and in substance. Substantively, they would allow high-level discussions of a broad range of common concerns, including global security, regional cooperation and integration, and more. Symbolically, they would demonstrate the importance to the United States of the U.S.-Armenia relationship and would counter some of the negative impressions left by the visit in 2006 of Azerbaijan's president, which came on the heels of his coronation in an election that was decidedly other than democratic. It is important to counter the impression left by that visit that the United States government pursues neither democracy nor a balanced policy in the region. Further, invitations from Washington would validate Armenia's desire to have a close relationship with the United States as well as Russia. Whereas Armenia's top officials visit Moscow regularly - and President Putin of Russia has visited Armenia - the last official visit of Armenia's head of state to Washington was in 1994.

Third, it is time for the State Department to find another post for Ambassador Richard Hoagland, whose nomination to be envoy to Armenia is hopelessly held up in the Senate. President Bush should nominate a qualified ambassador and allow the nominee to speak truthfully about the Armenian Genocide.

U.S. investment is paying off

The way the elections on May 12 were conducted was good for Armenia and Armenian democracy. Credit goes first to the Armenian people, the Armenian media, and Armenia's major political actors for their commitment to a democratic process. But the United States deserves a great deal of credit too. In the 15 years that Armenia has been independent, the United States has invested heavily in Armenia's survival and in deep, ongoing, and irrevocable reform in Armenia.

The United States has allocated some $1.6 billion over these years. This investment has included initial political support for Armenia's independence in 1991, followed by political and economic aid to mitigate the initially devastating impact of Azerbaijan's and Turkey's dual blockades as well as the lingering effects of the 1988 earthquake.

The U.S. investment in Armenia transitioned in the late 1990s from humanitarian intervention to technical assistance - helping rewrite laws, upgrading the nuclear power plant, civil-society reform programs, and macroeconomic reform. The focus is now on development and democracy - including $8 million for programs relating to the 2007 and 2008 elections and, of course, the MCC.

What is heartening and gratifying is that the investment is paying off. The elections were by far better than any in the last 15 years. Meanwhile, Armenia's economy is growing rapidly - in spite of adverse conditions imposed by unfriendly neighbors - and this growth is benefiting a gradually growing segment of the population.

Armenia has responded admirably to U.S. calls for support in global non­proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, counterterrorism, and anti-drug-trafficking efforts. It has joined U.S.-led forces in troubled regions like Kosovo and Iraq. Armenia has significantly strengthened its relationship with NATO by finalizing in 2006 an Individual Partnership Action Plan to improve cooperation by promoting reforms in the military and deepening participation in NATO missions and programs.

U.S. engagement with Armenia is a success story - and the United States should build on it.

 ***

And what is our role as Armenian-Americans?

The success we have achieved so far is in no small measure a result of the activism of thousands of Armenian-Americans who remind members of Congress and the administration - directly and through the media - of the shared values of the United States and Armenia, and the importance of playing a constructive, balanced, and engaged role in the region.