Frank Pallone: “I just wanted to point out, I know there is a lot of conversation going back and forth with Turkey and its rule over the…”

“I just wanted to point out, I know there is a lot of conversation going back and forth with Turkey and its rule over the years with the United States and our military. But I think the bottom line is here talking about humanitarian aid. That is all we are saying. I rarely criticize the President, but I have to in this case. When President Clinton certified and said that he was going to waive the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act, which is essentially what this amendment was all about, he was essentially admitting that there is a blockade, that the blockade is taking place and that, for whatever national security interests, which I guess is what you were citing, we should allow that blockade to continue and not have the humanitarian aid come to Armenia. I think that is wrong. Regardless of the fact of whatever the national security interests are, however you view United States- Turkey relations, the bottom line is that there is absolutely no reason why Turkey should be allowed to continue this blockade of Armenia for humanitarian assistance.”