PORTLAND, ME–Maine Armenian activists met with Republican Senator Olympia Snowe yesterday to discuss a range of issues, including concerns about the Bush Administration request to break its agreement to maintain military aid parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the ongoing blockade of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh and the peaceful resolution of the Karabagh conflict, reported the Armenian National Committee Eastern Region (ANCA ER).

“I was proud to be part of the Maine Armenian community team to discuss pressing issues of concern with Senator Snowe,” explained longtime ANC activist Kathy Durgerian. “We look forward to working closely with the Senator to ensure a stronger US-Armenia relationship and proper recognition of the Armenian Genocide.”

Armenian Cultural Association of Maine members Paul Proudian, Jirair Kiladjian, and Kathy Durgerian, thanked the Senator for cosponsoring the Genocide Resolution (S.Res.164) and her past support of Armenian Genocide commemorative efforts in the state. In April of 2003, an Armenian American aide to Sen. Snowe participated in an Armenian Genocide observance and unveiling of an Armenian Genocide monument. At the event, held in Portland, she read a statement from the Senator commemorating the victims of the Genocide.

The group stressed the importance of expanding US-Armenia trade levels by passing the Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) measure currently before the Senate. The activists also expressed particular concern about the Bush Administration’s proposed FY 2005 budget, which calls for an $8 million military aid package for Azerbaijan, while only allocating $2 million for Armenia. Citing Azerbaijan’s blockade of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, as well as the Azerbaijani leadership’s belligerent statements in support of a military solution to the Karabagh conflict, the activists argued that breaking military parity would only serve to encourage Azerbaijan in its destructive behavior.

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