Secretary Condoleezza Rice
U.S. Department of State
2201 C St, NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Rice,

We were troubled by the Turkish government's recent announcement that the Turkish railway project connecting Kars Turkey, Akhalkalaki Georgia, and Baku Azerbaijan is moving forward. According to the statement, there will be a meeting in Istanbul, Turkey to discuss the next phase of the project. We are writing this letter to urge you to denounce this proposed rail link because it is specifically designed to exclude the Republic of Armenia and undermines the United States' policy toward the South Caucasus region.

The United States’ policy toward the South Caucasus region is focused on fostering regional stability and enhanced cooperation. Open and integrated transportation routes among Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey are necessary to promote cooperation, support economic growth, and help resolve regional conflicts. Unfortunately, this policy is being undermined by efforts to exclude Armenia in regional development projects. The proposed rail link would cost between $400 million and $800 million and would take years to construct, while a perfectly workable rail link already exists and would be fully operational with a few minor repairs.

There is only one difference between the existing and proposed rail link: Armenia. The existing rail line goes through the city of Gyumri, Armenia. This new rail line has been proposed so that the region can develop economically without any benefit to Armenia, further strangling them into economic isolation. Azerbaijan’s leading role in developing the proposed new railroad and other similar actions serve to undermine and avoid a just solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and potentially destabilize the region.

We have recently proposed legislation (H.R. 3361) that would prohibit United States’ funding from going toward the construction of this new railroad. In no way should the United States condone a proposal or program that directly undermines our goal of fostering integration and cooperation among the countries of the region.

It is critical that the Department of State be on record denouncing this proposed rail line because it goes against a stated United States policy. This rail line would further isolate the Republic of Armenia and deny them much needed opportunities for economic growth. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this very important issue.

Sincerely,


Frank Pallone, Jr.
Joseph Knollenberg
George Radanovich
Steven Rothman
Joseph Crowley
Thaddeus McCotter
Edward Royce
Adam Schiff