South Caucasus Integration and Open Railroads Act of 2006

South Caucasus Integration and Open Railroads Act of 2006 - Prohibits U.S. assistance to develop or promote rail connections or railway-related connections that do not traverse or connect with Armenia, and do traverse or connect Baku, Azerbaijan; Tbilisi, Georgia; and Kars, Turkey.

[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2461 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2461

  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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 28, 2006

 Mr. Santorum (for himself and Mr. Menendez) introduced the following 
  bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``South Caucasus Integration and Open 
Railroads Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) United States policy toward the countries of the South 
        Caucasus is intended to foster regional stability and enhanced 
        cooperation.
            (2) The development of political, economic, and security 
        ties among all countries of the South Caucasus and between the 
        South Caucasus region and the West, will enhance regional 
        stability and advance United States interests.
            (3) The development of open and integrated transportation 
        routes in the countries of the South Caucasus will provide 
        positive incentives for international private investment, 
        increased trade, and other forms of commercial interaction with 
        the rest of the world.
            (4) The Republic of Armenia is a valued ally of the United 
        States and democratic countries throughout the world. The 
        United States continues to value the strong bond that exists 
        between Armenia and the United States.
            (5) The exclusion of Armenia from regional economic and 
        commercial undertakings in the South Caucasus undermines the 
        United States policy goal of promoting a stable and cooperative 
        environment in the region.
            (6) A new railroad has been proposed connecting Baku, 
        Azerbaijan, Tbilisi, Georgia, and Kars, Turkey, which would 
        cost at least $400,000,000 to $800,000,000 to build.
            (7) The proposed railroad specifically bypasses Armenia and 
        serves to isolate Armenia from East-West commercial corridors.
            (8) A railroad that connects Tbilisi, Georgia, Gyumri, 
        Armenia, and Kars, Turkey, already exists.
            (9) The existing railroad is in working condition and could 
        be operational within weeks of an agreement among Armenia, 
        Georgia, and Turkey, with minor repairs needed in specific 
        locations.
            (10) The leading role of the Government of Azerbaijan in 
        developing the proposed Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad and other 
        similar actions by the Government of Azerbaijan serve to 
        undermine and avoid a just solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh 
        conflict and potentially destabilize the region.

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON UNITED STATES ASSISTANCE FOR THE PROPOSED BAKU-
              TBILISI-KARS RAILROAD.

    (a) Prohibition.--Assistance under the provisions of law described 
in subsection (b) may not be made available to develop or promote any 
rail connections or railway-related connections that do not traverse or 
connect with Armenia, and do traverse or connect Baku, Azerbaijan, 
Tbilisi, Georgia, and Kars, Turkey.
    (b) Provisions of Law.--The provisions of law referred to in 
subsection (a) are the following:
            (1) Title IV of chapter 2 of part I of the Foreign 
        Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2191 et seq.; relating to the 
        Overseas Private Investment).
            (2) Chapter 12 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
        1961 (22 U.S.C. 2296 et seq.; relating to assistance for the 
        countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia).
            (3) Section 661 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
        U.S.C. 2421; relating to the Trade and Development Agency).
            (4) The Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 (12 U.S.C. 635 et 
        seq.).
            (5) Any other provision of law.
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