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109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3361 

To prohibit United States assistance to develop or promote any rail connections or railway-related connections that traverse or connect Baku, Azerbaijan; Tbilisi, Georgia; and Kars, Turkey, and that specifically exclude 

cities in Armenia. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 20, 2005 

Mr. KNOLLENBERG (for himself, Mr. PALLONE, and Mr. RADANOVICH) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each 

case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 

the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To prohibit United States assistance to develop or promote 

any rail connections or railway-related connections that 

traverse or connect Baku, Azerbaijan; Tbilisi, Georgia; 

and Kars, Turkey, and that specifically exclude cities 

in Armenia. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘South Caucasus Inte5 gration and Open Railroads Act of 2005’’. 
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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

2 Congress finds the following: 

3 (1) United States policy toward the countries of 

4 the South Caucasus is intended to foster regional 

5 stability and enhanced cooperation. 

6 (2) The development of political, economic, and 

7 security ties among all countries of the South 

8 Caucasus and between the South Caucasus region 

9 and the West, will enhance regional stability and ad10 vance United States interests. 

11 (3) The development of open and integrated 

12 transportation routes in the countries of the South 

13 Caucasus will provide positive incentives for inter14 national private investment, increased trade, and 

15 other forms of commercial interaction with the rest 

16 of the world. 

17 (4) The Republic of Armenia is a valued ally of 

18 the United States and democratic countries through19 out the world. The United States continues to value 

20 the strong bond that exists between Armenia and 

21 the United States. 

22 (5) The exclusion of Armenia from regional eco23 nomic and commercial undertakings in the South 

24 Caucasus undermines the United States policy goal 

25 of promoting a stable and cooperative environment 

26 in the region. 
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1 (6) A new railroad has been proposed con2 necting Baku, Azerbaijan; Tbilisi, Georgia; and 

3 Kars, Turkey, which would cost at least $400 to 

4 $800 million to build. 

5 (7) The proposed railroad specifically bypasses 

6 Armenia and serves to isolate Armenia from East7 West commercial corridors. 

8 (8) A railroad that connects Tbilisi, Georgia; 

9 Gyumri, Armenia; and Kars, Turkey, already exists. 

10 (9) The existing railroad is in working condition 

11 and could be operational within weeks of an agree12 ment among Armenia, Georgia, and Turkey, with 

13 minor repairs needed in specific locations. 

14 (10) Azerbaijan’s leading role in developing the 

15 proposed Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad and other simi16 lar actions by Azerbaijan serve to undermine and 

17 avoid a just solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh con18 flict and potentially destabilize the region. 

19 SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON UNITED STATES ASSISTANCE FOR 

20 THE PROPOSED BAKU-TBILISI-KARS RAIL21 ROAD. 

22 (a) PROHIBITION.—Assistance under the provisions 

23 of law described in subsection (b) may not be made avail24 able to develop or promote any rail connections or railway25 related connections that do not traverse or connect with 
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1 Armenia, and do traverse or connect Baku, Azerbaijan; 

2 Tbilisi, Georgia; and Kars, Turkey. 

3 (b) PROVISIONS OF LAW.—The provisions of law re4 ferred to in subsection (a) are the following: 

5 (1) Title IV of chapter 2 of part I of the For6 eign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2191 et 

7 seq.; relating to the Overseas Private Investment). 

8 (2) Chapter 12 of part I of the Foreign Assist9 ance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2296 et seq.; relating 

10 to assistance for the countries of the South 

11 Caucasus and Central Asia). 

12 (3) Section 661 of the Foreign Assistance Act 

13 of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2421; relating to the Trade and 

14 Development Agency). 

15 (4) The Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 (12 

16 U.S.C. 635 et seq.). 

17 (5) Any other provision of law. 

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