Armenian Assembly of America
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PRESS RELEASE
June 21, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE APPROVES NEARLY $68 MILLION FOR ARMENIA
FOR FY 2006
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly praised the leadership of the
House Appropriations Committee today for supporting without changes
the Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh provisions passed last week by
Chairman Jim Kolbe’s (R-AZ) Foreign Operations Subcommittee. Despite
ongoing overall reductions to former Soviet states, the Fiscal Year
(FY) 2006 Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill calls for $67.5
million for Armenia, up to $5 million for Nagorno Karabakh and
maintains military assistance parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan
with $5.75 million allocated to each country.
While the overall funding level for the former Soviet states was
reduced to $477 million from $555 million in FY 2005, funding for
Armenia was $12.5 million over the Administration’s request.
“Given the current budget restraints, we salute the leadership of
Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) for making Armenia’s
and Karabakh’s case so effectively to both the Foreign Operations
Subcommittee and now the full Appropriations Committee,” said Assembly
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. “We also thank Appropriations
Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-CA) and Ranking Member David Obey
(D-WI) for approving the subcommittee’s proposed allocations.”
Today’s action also allocated $5 million in Foreign Military Financing
and $750,000 for International Military Education and Training to both
Armenia and Azerbaijan, as requested by the Administration. These
funds will improve inter-operability between Armenia’s military and
its Western partners, upgrade Armenia’s communication systems and
better its personnel training.
“With overall aid levels being reduced, Armenia helped itself
significantly these past 12 months with its deployment to Iraq, an
agreement for the Pentagon to conduct a defense assessment and
Armenia’s presentation of its Individual Partnership Action Plan
(IPAP) to NATO,” said Knollenberg. “Despite the considerable damage
incurred by Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s blockades, Armenia is stepping
up its security relations with the U.S. and NATO. I am pleased that
my Appropriations’ colleagues responded generously.”
In addition to its testimony and support letters to the Foreign
Operations Subcommittee April, the Assembly also supported a letter
initiated by Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and
Caucus Member Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA) and co-signed by 43
additional Members of Congress, highlighting important priorities for
Armenia and Karabakh.
“The Appropriations Committee took notice of the strong bi-partisan
support for aid to Armenia and Karabakh and the ongoing market reforms
and strong economic performance of both states,” said Pallone.
“Armenia’s selection in the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA)
competition, its 10 percent GDP increase last year and its continued
high ranking in the Wall Street Journal and Heritage Foundation’s
“2005 Index of Economic Freedom” had to be considered when deciding
how much should be allocated as competition for funds intensifies.”
The Committee bill also offered support for confidence building
measures (CBM’s) to help stimulate the Nagorno Karabakh peace
process. The Committee report said in part:
“The Committee reiterates its view that the extent and timing of
United States and multilateral assistance, other than humanitarian
assistance, to the government of any country in the Caucasus region
should be proportional to its willingness to cooperate with the Minsk
Group and other efforts to resolve regional conflicts.
In furtherance of a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, and in support of the measured discussed at NATO and OSCE
summits, the Committee strongly supports confidence-building measures
among the parties to the conflict. Such measures include
strengthening compliance with the cease-fire, studying post-conflict
regional development such as landmine removal, water management,
transportation routes and infrastructure, establishing a youth
exchange program and other collaborative and humanitarian initiatives
to foster greater understanding among the parties and reduce
hostilities. The Committee expects the State Department to use its
authority under section 498B of the Foreign Assistance Act as
necessary to carry out such programs…..
The Committee continues to be concerned about the plight of the
victims of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, and recommends that up to $5
million should be made available to address ongoing humanitarian needs
in the Nagorno Karabakh region.”
The bill will next be considered by the House of Representatives. The
completed House version of the bill will then be reconciled with an
upcoming Senate version.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership
organization.
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