AMERICAN LEGISLATORS ONCE AGAIN STOOD UP FOR ARMENIANS

PanArmenian News
Nov 23 2004

The US Congress has decided not to curtail the aid provided to
Armenia

The House of Representatives has accepted the proposal of
Subcommittee on External Appropriations to provide Armenia military
assistance in sum, which is four times as much as the one
administration insisted on. The legislators considered the initiative
of the White House to provide Azerbaijan in 2005 8 million dollars
and Armenia with 2 million with a view of strengthening the military
forces baseless. The Congressmen have agreed to the arguments
provided by the Armenian Assembly of America and Armenian National
Committee and have decided to equalize the military assistance
provided to the two warring countries. Yerevan and Baku will get 8
million and 750 thousand dollars each.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian lobbyists also succeeded in the case
of “regular economic aid.” It has been decided to provide Armenia “at
least 75 million dollars” which exceeds the sum suggested by the
administration by 13 millions. The first years of independence the
USA provided Armenia 90 million. It had been possible to keep the
scale of the aid at this level only due to the Congressmen. The White
House tried to curtail the moneyed assistance to Yerevan all the
time. In spite of the efforts made by the Armenian lobbyists and
their partners the administration succeeded in cutting down the aid
provided to Armenia to 75 millions in 2001. But G. Bush even this
considered a lot. Last year the executive power suggested cutting
down the aid provided to Armenia to 50 million, but the Congressmen
could fight for the previous amount.

This time the administration suggested providing Armenia 62 million,
Azerbaijan – 38 million and Georgia – 72 million.

This initiative has been already blocked while being under the
consideration of Subcommittee on External Appropriations. The members
of the Subcommittee decided that Armenia would be provided “at least
65 million dollars” as it was written in the passed budget project.
On the next stage the Armenian lobbyists succeeded in returning to 75
millions. It is extremely important that the Congressmen decided to
continue the direct provision of financial aid to Nagorno Karabakh.
In spite of the will of American administration, Stepanakert will
receive funds from the USA for realization of humanitarian projects
in this time too. It is a question of 3 million dollars, but the
important point is not about the amount but about the fact of the
direct aid. Azerbaijan is indignant with this decision and it is
going to be discussed during the Parliamentarian sittings. They also
may adopt a resolution condemning the activities of the American
Congressmen. In Baku they suppose that the provision of the direct
aid to Karabakh is an indirect recognition of the autonomy of
unrecognized republic.

Now there is almost no doubt that the project is to have a power of
law. The consideration in Senate is coming soon. If no moot points
arise between these two houses, the case will appear on G. Bush’s
desk and he will be obliged to sign the document containing figures
which he didn’t approve.