Armenian National Committee of America
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
FORTY-FIVE U.S. REPRESENTATIVES CALL FOR
PRO-ARMENIAN PROVISIONS IN FOREIGN AID BILL
— Reps. Pallone and Radanovich Lead Bipartisan Effort
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and George
Radanovich (R-CA) were joined today by forty-three of their U.S.
House colleagues in formally calling on the leadership of the House
Foreign Operations Subcommittee to support pro-Armenian provisions
in the fiscal year 2006 foreign aid bill, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
This bipartisan expression of support, addressed to the panel’s
Chairman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY),
strengthens the hand of pro-Armenian members of the Subcommittee,
most notably Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg, Steve
Rothman (D-NJ), Mark Kirk (R-IL), and John Sweeney (R-NY). Rep.
Sweeney, who is a new addition to the panel this year, is one of
only two Members of Congress of Armenian heritage.
The letter specifically calls for setting an earmark of at least
$75 million for Armenia; maintaining the President’s request for
equal levels of Foreign Military Financing for Armenia and
Azerbaijan at $5 million each; an additional $5 million in direct
aid to Nagorno Karabagh for fiscal year 2006, and; keeping in place
the Section 907 restriction on aid to Azerbaijan. The full text of
the letter is provided below.
“We very much appreciate the leadership of Congressmen Radanovich
and Pallone in urging the Foreign Operations Subcommittee to
support provisions in the foreign aid bill of special importance to
Armenian Americans,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
“We also value the advocacy for pro-Armenian issues from within
this panel by Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg, the
leadership of Chairman Jim Kolbe and Ranking Democrat Nita Lowey,
and the support of Steve Rothman, John Sweeney, Mark Kirk, Jesse
Jackson, Jr., Carolyn Kilpatrick, Chaka Fattah, and our other
friends.”
The names of the forty-five signatories are as follows: Gary L.
Ackerman (D-NY), Thomas H. Allen (D-ME), Robert E. Andrews (D-NJ),
Xavier Beccerra (D-CA), Howard L. Berman (D-CA), Michael Bilirakis
(R-FL), Eric Cantor (R-VA), Michael E. Capuano (D-CA), Dennis A.
Cardoza (D-CA), John Conyers Jr. (D-MI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jerry F.
Costello (D-IL), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), David Dreier (R-CA), Anna
G. Eshoo (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Eleanor
Holmes Norton (D-DC), Rush D. Holt (D-NJ), Michael M. Honda (D-CA),
Steve Israel (D-NY), Darrell E. Issa (R-CA), James R. Langevin (D-
RI), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Carolyn
McCarthy (D-NY), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Michael R. McNulty (D-
NY), Martin Meehan (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Grace F.
Napolitano (D-CA), Devin Nunes (R-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ),
Collin C. Peterson (D-MN), Linda T. Sanchez (D-CA), Adam B. Schiff
(D-CA), Joe Schwarz (R-MI), Clay E. Shaw, Jr. (R-FL), John Shimkus
(R-IL), Mark E. Souder (R-IN), George Radanovich (R-CA), Stephanie
Tubbs Jones (D-OH), Diane E. Watson (D-CA), Henry Waxman (D-CA),
and Jerry Weller (R-IL).
#####
Text of Congressional letter on the FY06 Foreign Aid Bill:
April 8, 2005
The Honorable Jim Kolbe
Chairman
Subcommittee on Foreign Operations Appropriations
H-150, The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Nita Lowey
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Foreign Operations Appropriations
1016 Longworth
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Kolbe and Ranking Member Lowey:
Thank you for your leadership on the Appropriations Subcommittee on
Foreign Operations. As you prepare the FY2006 Foreign Operations
Appropriations bill, we write in support of Armenia and US-Armenia
relations. We request that you include the following items in the
FY2006 bill.
Economic Assistance to Armenia:
The dual blockades of Armenia by Azerbaijan and Turkey continue to
impede Armenia’s economic well-being. Despite the dual blockades
by Azerbaijan and Turkey, Armenia continues to implement economic
and democratic reforms, which have met success. While Armenia
continues to make important reforms, as long as Armenia suffers
from blockades on its east and west borders, continued and robust
U.S. assistance to Armenia is necessary to help minimize their
impact. Our assistance has provided an important positive effect
and will continue to do so when provided at appropriate levels.
For fiscal year 2005, $75 million was provided for Armenia.
Maintaining this level of support is critical. Therefore, we
request you include language ensuring that not less than $75million
in Economic Support Funds is appropriated for Armenia in fiscal
year 2006.
Maintain Parity in Foreign Military Financing (FMF):
The President is to be commended for maintaining U.S. policy of
military aid parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan by requesting $5
million in FMF for both countries in his FY 2006 budget request.
By allocating equal levels of military and security assistance to
both nations, the U.S. government will preserve its credibility as
an impartial and leading mediator in the continuing sensitive peace
negotiations for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Given the
ongoing Azerbaijani blockades and threats to renew military
aggression against Armenia and Karabakh, it is critically important
that the Administration continues to promote balanced short- and
long-term policies that elevate regional cooperation and reduce the
risk of conflict in the South Caucases region. Therefore, we
support the President’s symmetrical FMF request of $5 million for
Armenia and Azerbaijan, and request that you include the same
allocation in the FY 2006 bill.
Assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh:
We thank you for your continued support for assistance to Nagorno-
Karabakh. This support is in our country’s interests and helps
alleviate the conditions of the Nagorno-Karabakh people. We agree
with the USAID Administrator who has testified before Congress
about the importance of continuing the work of the agency in
Nagorno-Karabakh. It is important for Congress to maintain a
strong position on this funding to ensure that these programs
continue. Therefore, we request you include language directing
USAID to spend $5 million in fiscal year 2006 for programs in
Nagorno-Karabakh.
Section 907:
Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act remains a fundamental
element of U.S. policy toward the South Caucases. Because
Azerbaijan continues its blockade of Armenia, Section 907 is
necessary. As you know, the FY 2002 Foreign Operations
Appropriations Act provided a limited and conditional waiver to
Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act in order for the U.S. to
effectively combat terrorism. Specifically, Secretary of State
Colin Powell asked for flexibility to counter terrorist elements
and organizations operating within Azerbaijan. We strongly support
Section 907 and will oppose any further changes to this law. We
request that you join us in opposing any changes to Section 907 in
the fiscal year 2006 bill.
We appreciate your consideration of these requests.
Sincerely,