Armenian Assembly of America
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: ckojoian@aaainc.org

SENATE FOREIGN AID PANEL APPROVES $75 MILLION FOR ARMENIA

Assembly Hails Leadership of Majority Whip McConnell

Washington, DC – The Senate State, Foreign Operations Appropriations
Subcommittee today approved $75 million in assistance to Armenia
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 – an increase of $20 million over the
Administration’s request and nearly $8 million more than the House
request. The Subcommittee also approved $3 million in humanitarian
assistance to Nagorno Karabakh.

In addition, the overall funding level for the former Soviet states
was increased to $565 million, up from the Administration’s request
of $482 million and the House allocation of $477 million.

“We commend the leadership of Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R-KY),
the Subcommittee’s Chairman, for securing – under very challenging
budget restraints – the same level of assistance for Armenia as
was allocated in FY 2005,” said Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny. “Additionally, we appreciate the support of Members of the
Subcommittee with respect to Armenian issues. Maintaining significant
aid to Armenia is essential in the face of the ongoing Turkish and
Azerbaijani blockades.”

Today’s action also allocated $5 million in Foreign Military Financing
and $750,000 for International Military Education and Training to
Armenia 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.

The bill’s report language also addressed the political and
economic development of Nagorno Karabakh and offered its support for
confidence-building measures to further the peaceful resolution of
the NK conflict.

Armenia’s neighbors, Georgia and Azerbaijan, are slated to receive
$70.5 million and $38 million respectively.

The spending measure will be considered later this week by full Senate
Appropriations Committee.

In a related development, the House of Representatives last night
approved its version of the Foreign Operations bill by a vote of
393 to 32. The House bill provides $67.5 million for Armenia and an
additional $5 million for Nagorno Karabakh and maintains military
assistance parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan with $5.75 million
allocated to each country. Once the Senate completes action on their
version of the bill, a joint House-Senate Conference Committee will
reconcile the differences.

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.

NR#2005-073

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