Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: info@aaainc.org
Web:
 
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 20, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: ckojoian@aaainc.org

SENATE APPROVES $75 MILLION FOR ARMENIA IN 2006
Assembly Commends Senate Majority Whip McConnell

Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate today voted 98 to 1 to approve the Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill which recommends $75 million in assistance to Armenia and an additional $3 million in humanitarian aid to Nagorno Karabakh. The Senate action supports without changes the Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh provisions passed last month by the Senate State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee and the full Appropriations Committee.

“Given the consistent downward trend in U.S. assistance to the former Soviet States, the Assembly welcomes today’s vote and applauds the continued leadership of Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Operations Subcommittee, as well as members of the Subcommittee, for maintaining robust aid levels to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh,” said Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. “As long as Turkey and Azerbaijan continue their immoral blockade of Armenia, U.S. assistance is needed to offset the damaging impact of these actions.”

The level of funding, equivalent to the amount Armenia received in 2005, reflects a $20 million increase over the Administration request to Congress made earlier this year. The overall funding level to the former Soviet States was also increased to $565 million, a 17 percent jump over the Administration’s request for the region.

Today’s vote 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 spending measure also includes $700,000 in Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining and Related Projects (NADR) funding for Armenia.

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

The next step in the legislative process is for the House and Senate to reconcile the differences in a conference committee.

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#2005-083

–Boundary_(ID_2612dk+U6JIVj5oKYL9IjA)–