Thursday, February 26 2015 10:09

 Armenia is not an important nation to the U.S., says Jason Katz is the principal of TSG, LLC, a consultancy that advises foreign governments, NGOs and corporations in the realms of strategic communications, politics and policy. He is also the former head of Public Affairs and Public Relations for the American Jewish Committee, based in Los Angeles.

In his article in the online newspaper Roll Call, Jason Katz writes: "In fact, Armenia recently turned away from the West by joining Mr. Putin's Eurasian Customs Union - the counter to the European Union.  Armenian borders and airspace are even patrolled by the Russian military. The Armenian president, Serge Sargysan, was recently quoted expressing his warm and fuzzy feelings toward his close ally Iran and the Mullahs. Further, why would a member of U.S. Congress go so far to offend not one, but two of America's most important regional allies, Azerbaijan and Georgia?

Katz also recalls the latest official letter of Democrat Brad Sherman from California wherein he informs of his efforts to promote the U.S.-Armenia ties. Sherman writes that as a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, I have focused on recognizing the Armenian Genocide, increasing aid to Armenia, Artsakh, and Javakh, and holding Azerbaijan accountable for its actions.

"So why would the Congressman's newsletter, again at tax payer expense, be devoted exclusively Armenian issues?" Katz writes. 

As for Nagorny Karabakh, Katz writes: "I believe, and so officially does the rest of the world, including the United States, that is the Nagorno-Karabkah region of Azerbaijan that is internationally recognized as illegally occupied by Armenia. As for Javakh, it is a region within Georgia with compact Armenian minority and subject to territorial claims by some more radical Armenians." 

Katz is sure that assume Sherman has a significant Armenian-American community in his district. "He should represent their interests - as long as those interests do not go directly against those of our nation as a whole," he writes.