Sam Brownback: “I wanted to address several of the issues my colleagues have raised, that the negotiations between Armenia and…”

“I wanted to address several of the issues my colleagues have raised, that the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan that are taking place in the so-called Minsk Group are at a very delicate time period and the repeal of section 907, as addressed in the McConnell-Abraham amendment, would upset the delicate negotiations at this point in time. Frankly, it is just not true that these negotiations are at a delicate point in time now and this amendment would do that. The present conflict has been going on since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and a cease-fire has been in effect since 1994. The U.S. Government is one of the peace group cochairs, along with Russia and France, and they all--the U.S. Government, the Clinton administration--favor repeal or waiver of section 907. The amendment I put forward prevents our Government from being an honest broker in the peace process. We have letters from Secretary Albright and the administration on this. Russia is involved, and not in a helpful way.”