Former U.S. Congresswoman Speier wants to see growing relationship with Armenia

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Former U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Speier has said that she wants to see the relationship grow between the United States and Armenia.

The ex-congresswoman attended the Global Armenian Summit 2024 in Yerevan. 

Speier told Armenpress that the summit is “absolutely critical for Armenia's future.”

“I think that the summit is absolutely critical for Armenia's future. I mean, there are more people living in the diaspora who are Armenians than living here in Armenia. So we all have an obligation in the diaspora to be the guardian angels of this country if we are going to keep this country as an independent democracy. I think that this type of a program is important because, you know, Armenia is this landlocked country that is in an uncomfortable neighborhood. And from a United States perspective, we want to applaud its democracy. We want to applaud the Velvet Revolution. We want to applaud their leaning to the West to engage with the European Union. I want to see a relationship grow between the United States and Armenia. And so this kind of event helps us to develop the relationships and the ideas to make sure that that can happen,” Speier said.

Asked on the unprecedented development of the U.S.-Armenia ties, the former congresswoman spoke about the Armenian Genocide resolution passed by Congress, as well as other initiatives. 

“Well, over the 15 years that I served in Congress, the relationship was very lukewarm for the longest time. And then we were successful in getting the Armenian Genocide Resolution passed by Congress, something that had been sitting there for 30 years. And there was a reluctance to pass it and have the president sign it for fear of retribution from Turkey. President Biden was strong and very willing to move forward on the project. So finally, we got that done. But beyond that, I wanted to increase the foreign aid from the United States to Armenia. We doubled it to $40 million during the last year. And now because of the aggression of Azerbaijan and the loss of Artsakh and the 100,000 plus Armenians from Artsakh that have moved into Armenia, it's important for us to provide assimilation services, help with the housing, the vocational training, all of which I think are going to be important for the community that's been displaced, but also to build our relationship with Armenia,” the former congresswoman said. 

Asked whether she sees any possibility for the forcibly displaced population of Nagorno-Karabakh to return home, Speier said, “Never say never. But I think that the peace agreement is going to have elements that will speak to that issue. I do think that making a new life here in Armenia is the best way forward. One of the comments that I made over and over again today on this is stop looking backwards and start looking forward. It's very important to move ahead.”