HOUSE FOREIGN AID PANEL REINSTATES US POLICY ON SECURITY PARITY

ArmRadio.am
23.05.2006 10:45

The Armenian Assembly praised members of a key foreign aid subcommittee
for reinstating US policy to maintain military aid parity between
Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Foreign Operations
bill. Earlier this year, the Administration submitted a request for
Azerbaijan that exceeded security assistance to Armenia by $1.095
million.

Lawmakers approved a symmetrical appropriation that amounts to $3.5
million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and an additional $790,000
in International Military Education and Training (IMET) assistance
to both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“We appreciate the efforts of the House Appropriations Committee and
credit its Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Jim Kolbe
and Ranking Member Rep. Nita M. Lowey for maintaining equal security
assistance between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” said Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny. “We especially appreciate the outstanding
leadership of Armenian Caucus Co-Chair and Committee Member, Rep. Joe
Knollenberg, for his efforts in restoring parity and protecting the
fragile cease-fire at a time when Azerbaijan continues to threaten
a resumption of war against Nagorno Karabakh.”

“Given the fact that relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan
continue to be tenuous, it is imperative that the US maintain a
balanced approach,” said Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone,
Jr. “Furthermore, I am pleased that the Committee called for a higher
allocation to Armenia than that requested by the Administration.”

The bill will be considered by the full House Appropriations Committee
this week. Once the House of Representatives and Senate complete
action on their versions of the bill, a joint House Senate Conference
Committee will reconcile the differences.