Armenian National Committee of America
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Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
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PRESS RELEASE
May 19, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE MAINTAINS MILITARY AID PARITY
BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

— Proposes $62 million for Armenia; Up to $5 million for Karabagh

Washington, DC – Early reports from Capitol Hill sources indicate
that the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations
today approved by voice vote to maintain military assistance parity
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, despite the Bush Administration’s
request to break the parity agreement and provide 40% more in
assistance to Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA.)

Sources on Capitol Hill reported that the key foreign aid panel
also allocated $62 million in U.S. aid for Armenia and $5 million
for Nagorno Karabagh for fiscal year (FY) 2007. The amount
represents a $12 million increase over President Bush’s FY 2007
budget request, but is lower than last year’s appropriation of $75
million. The Subcommittee also rejected efforts by Azerbaijan’s
lobbyists to weaken Section 907 restrictions on U.S. assistance to
Azerbaijan, due to its ongoing blockades of Armenia and Nagorno
Karabagh.

Overall, the Subcommittee approved $21.3 billion in foreign aid
spending, an increase of $600 million over last year’s budget.

“We commend the members of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee for
contributing to the continued stability of the Caucasus by
maintaining parity in military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan and
fighting back attempts to further weaken Section 907,” stated Aram
Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. “We also appreciate the
efforts of our friends to increase Armenia’s assistance above the
level proposed by the President and to provide $5 million in aid to
Nagorno Karabagh. We look forward to action by the Senate – and
later in conference committee – to bring assistance to Armenia to
at least last year’s figure of $75 million,” added Hamparian.

Military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan will include
$3.5million in foreign military finance (FMF) and $790,000 in
International Military and Education Training (IMET). Economic
assistance to Azerbaijan was set at $29 million, $1 million more
than the Administration’s budget request.

“We want to express our appreciation to Congressman Joe Knollenberg
for his advocacy within the Subcommittee, to thank Chairman Jim
Kolbe and Ranking Member Nita Lowey for their leadership, and to
share our gratitude for the support of John Sweeney, Steve Rothman,
Mark Kirk, and Chaka Fattah., and our other friends on this vitally
important panel,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the
ANCA.

On March 16th of this year, Representative George Radanovich (R-
CA)and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Frank Pallone (D-
NJ)sent a letter to the leadership of the Subcommittee, cosigned by
48of their House colleagues, calling for an earmark of at least
$75million for Armenia; maintaining equal levels of military aid
for Armenia and Azerbaijan; an additional $5 million in direct aid
to Nagorno Karabagh for FY 2007, and; keeping in place the Section
907 restriction on aid to Azerbaijan.

The names of the fifty signatories are as follows: Tom Allen (D-
ME), Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Howard Berman(D-
CA), Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), Eric Cantor (R-VA), Lois Capps(D-
CA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), John Conyers (D-MI), Jim Costa (D-CA),
Joseph Crowley (D-NY), William Delahunt (D-MA), David Dreier(R-CA),
Eliot Engel (D-NY), Mike Ferguson (R-NJ), Barney Frank (D-MA),
Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Michael Honda (D-CA),Dale
Kildee (D-MI), James Langevin (D-RI), Sander Levin (D-MI),Frank
LoBiondo (R-NJ), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY),
Edward Markey (D-MA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Thaddeus McCotter(R-MI),
James McGovern (D-MA), John McHugh (R-NY), Michael McNulty(D-NY),
Martin Meehan (D-MA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Frank Pallone (D-
NJ), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Collin Peterson (D-MN), George Radanovich
(R-CA), Bobby Rush (D-IL), H. James Saxton (R-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-
CA), Joe Schwarz (R-MI), Christopher Shays (R-CT), Brad Sherman (D-
CA), Rob Simmons (R-CT), Mark Souder (R-IN), Edolphus Towns (D-NY),
Diane Watson (D-CA), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and
Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).
From: Baghdasarian