Until today, the congressman’s political activity is closely connected
with defending the interests of the Armenians. In politics, that is
called lobbying. Pallone is also involved in other issues. For example,
for over 10 years Armenia has been receiving humanitarian aid from the
United States government and the congressman along with his board (140
congressmen) play a major role in solving Armenia’s issues in the U.S.
Congress (they collaborate with political organizations and NGOs,
including the Armenian Assembly of America, HyeDat and others).
I think it is interesting to know how the congressman got interested in
Armenia’s issues, because to be honest, there are very few political
figures in the world who are actually concerned with those issues.
Recently Frank Pallone, who by the way is from the Democratic Party,
was in Los Angeles and met with representatives of the Armenian
community. I did not lose the opportunity and asked some questions that
interested me.
168 hours: “Since when did you start getting involved in Armenia’s issues and what made you draw your attention to that?
Frank Pallone: “First of all, I would like to say that I have been
around Armenians since I was a child. I live in New Jersey and in front
of my house there is an Armenian church. But the person who has played
an important role in my orientation was an Armenian woman who was
leading my campaign in 1988 (this was the year when Frank Pallone got
elected as congressman). I found out a lot of things about Armenia and
Armenians from that woman. Starting from the beginning of the 1990s, my
colleagues from the Republican Party and I have led the congressional
board which has been involved in Armenian issues for 10 years already.”
168: “Has the number of board members increased during the past 10 years?”
Frank Pallone: “Of course it has. A couple of years ago we had 70-80
members, but now it’s almost double. The Armenian organizations
involved in lobbying Armenian issues are the most in number in the
Congress.
168: “What are the main issues that the board discusses?
F.P.:“Well, for example, during the end of last month we were
discussing about providing both humanitarian and military aid to
Armenia. We are trying to pass the law which will allow both Armenia
and Karabagh to get the same amount of aid as Azerbaijan-$5,000,000
dollars. That law will be passed on one condition: if 2 million dollars
of the 10 million granted to Azerbaijan be given to Armenia. We want
the $10,000,000 dollars to be distributed equally between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Of course, the law is still going through negotiations, but
I am certain that the Senate will pass it.”
168: “There are some people who think that if presidential candidate
John Kerry wins in the upcoming elections, then there is great chance
that the Armenian resolution will be passed in Congress.”
F.P.: “Kerry has said many times that he has always been in favor of
passing the Armenian resolution and if elected, he will fulfill his
promise and help recognize the Armenian Genocide.”
168: “Many American presidents have made that promise, but the resolution has not been passed.”
F.P.: “I hope that John Kerry will fulfill his promise. We must take
into consideration the fact that Kerry is from Massachusets where there
is a large and active Armenian community. Kerry has always been
respected for being orientated towards helping the Armenians.”
168: “Does this mean that President Bush is anti-Armenian?
F.P.: “I would not say that. He simply has not done anything that favors the Armenians.”
168: “Last year, the White House made a suggestion of reducing humanitarian aid to Armenia. How can we explain that?”
F.P.: “Bush is not the first one to have done that. Both Bush’s father
and Clinton have made the same resolution. After all, this is a matter
of politics and the country’s interests. It is clear that Turkey, as
well as Azerbaijan favor the United States both politically and
economically. Armenia is a small country. In order for the country to
be of interest to the White House it is necessary for the president to
be informed about Armenian issues.
168: “In other words, it is a question of lobbying. In that case, it is
interesting to know about the relations between all-Armenian and
anti-Armenian forces in Congress?
F.P.:“I think that the Armenian lobbying is more influential. But we
can not put aside the Turkey-Azerbaijan factor which is dominant to the
Armenian one in some cases. This is fairly understandable. The Turkish
lobbyists have lots of money and back up from Turkey’s state
structures. The Armenian lobbying lacks financing.”
168: “What do you foresee in the upcoming elections?”
F.P.: “I have no doubt that John Kerry will become the next president
of the U.S. People are already tired of Bush’s politics and the
country’s present economic situation. They don’t want any more wars.
That’s why I think that the majority of the votes will go to Kerry.