  We examine the coincidence of times of high $\gamma$-ray flux and ejections
of superluminal components from the core in EGRET blazars based on a VLBA
monitoring program at 22 and 43 GHz from November 1993 to July 1997. In 23
cases of $\gamma$-ray flares for which sufficient VLBA data exist, 10 of the
flares (in 8 objects) fall within 1$\sigma$ uncertainties of the extrapolated
epoch of zero separation from the core of a superluminal radio component. In
each of two sources (0528+134 and 1730-130) two successive $\gamma$-ray flares
were followed by the appearance of new superluminal components. We carried out
statistical simulations which show that if the number of coincidences $\ge$ 10
the radio and $\gamma$-ray events are associated with each other at >99.999%
confidence. Our analysis of the observed behavior, including variability of the
polarized radio flux, of the sources before, during, and after the $\gamma$-ray
flares suggests that the $\gamma$-ray events occur in the superluminal radio
knots. This implies that the $\gamma$-ray flares are caused by inverse Compton
scattering by relativistic electrons in the parsec-scale regions of the jet
rather than closer to the central engine.
