Tweet
Aid Approved: U.S. Panel agrees to $51 million for Armenia next year
rmenia has been approved by a key House panel of the U.S. Congress to receive $51.4 million in aid during Fiscal Year 2010. The Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill approved this week includes $3 million for Foreign Military Financing (FMF), and $450,000 in International Military Education Training (IMET). Nagorno Karabakh will receive $10 million.
Meanwhile, funding increases proposed for Azerbaijan, which had raised charges of disparity from advocacy organizations including the Armenian Assembly of America (www.aaainc.org) were not approved.
. "U.S. assistance to Armenia helps to offset the impact of Turkey's ongoing blockade of Armenia," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "The Assembly commends Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) and members of the Subcommittee for ensuring this positive outcome,"
The Subcommittee voted to maintain military assistance parity to Armenia and Azerbaijan, keeping foreign military financing to both countries at $3 million. The panel chose not to accept President Obama’s proposals, included in the FY10 budget that he released earlier this year, to reduce economic aid to Armenia by 38%, from $48 million to $30 million, and to tilt the military aid balance in favor of Azerbaijan.
"Today's Subcommittee action sends the right message to the people of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, that America will continue to assist our friends in the region," said Ardouny. "However, the Assembly remains concerned about the overall level of assistance to Armenia, especially the impact of the Millennium Challenge Corporation's (MCC) recent decision to hold back funding on a rural roads project. The Assembly will continue to press for increased assistance to benefit the people of Armenia."
As reported by the Armenian National Committee of America, soon after the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee’s action, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) hailed the panel’s actions.
"I commend the efforts of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chairwoman Nita Lowey and Ranking Member Kay Granger to restore military parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” said Rep. Pallone. “Their bi-partisan leadership . . . strengthens the U.S.-Armenia relationship by paving the way for economic aid to Armenia and assistance to Nagorno Karabakh during this global recession."
In March of this year, Assembly Board of Trustees Member Van Krikorian testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State Foreign Operations and Related Programs, outlining the Assembly's priorities and urging not less than: $70 million for Armenia, $10 million for Nagorno Karabakh as well as $4 million in Foreign FMF and $1 million in IMET for Fiscal Year 2010.
The full Committee is expected to consider the bill next week with a vote in the House of Representatives anticipated before the August Congressional recess.
source
Meanwhile, funding increases proposed for Azerbaijan, which had raised charges of disparity from advocacy organizations including the Armenian Assembly of America (www.aaainc.org) were not approved.
. "U.S. assistance to Armenia helps to offset the impact of Turkey's ongoing blockade of Armenia," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "The Assembly commends Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) and members of the Subcommittee for ensuring this positive outcome,"
The Subcommittee voted to maintain military assistance parity to Armenia and Azerbaijan, keeping foreign military financing to both countries at $3 million. The panel chose not to accept President Obama’s proposals, included in the FY10 budget that he released earlier this year, to reduce economic aid to Armenia by 38%, from $48 million to $30 million, and to tilt the military aid balance in favor of Azerbaijan.
"Today's Subcommittee action sends the right message to the people of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, that America will continue to assist our friends in the region," said Ardouny. "However, the Assembly remains concerned about the overall level of assistance to Armenia, especially the impact of the Millennium Challenge Corporation's (MCC) recent decision to hold back funding on a rural roads project. The Assembly will continue to press for increased assistance to benefit the people of Armenia."
As reported by the Armenian National Committee of America, soon after the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee’s action, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) hailed the panel’s actions.
"I commend the efforts of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chairwoman Nita Lowey and Ranking Member Kay Granger to restore military parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” said Rep. Pallone. “Their bi-partisan leadership . . . strengthens the U.S.-Armenia relationship by paving the way for economic aid to Armenia and assistance to Nagorno Karabakh during this global recession."
In March of this year, Assembly Board of Trustees Member Van Krikorian testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State Foreign Operations and Related Programs, outlining the Assembly's priorities and urging not less than: $70 million for Armenia, $10 million for Nagorno Karabakh as well as $4 million in Foreign FMF and $1 million in IMET for Fiscal Year 2010.
The full Committee is expected to consider the bill next week with a vote in the House of Representatives anticipated before the August Congressional recess.
source
Comment