House Subcommittee maintains military aid parity between Armenia and
Azerbaijan

ArmRadio.am
20.05.2006 13:00

Early reports from Capitol Hill sources indicate that the House
Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations 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 US 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 US 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 morethan the
Administration’s budget request.