HOUSE FOREIGN AID PANEL REINSTATES US POLICY ON SECURITY PARITY APPROVES $62 MILLION FOR ARMENIAIN FY FOREIGN AID BILL
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
May 23 2006
The Armenian Assembly praised members of a key foreign aid subcommittee
today for reinstating U.S. 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 (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Rep. Nita M. Lowey (D-NY)
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 (R-MI), 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.” Following the vote, Knollenberg told the
Assembly that “It is vitally important that Congress maintain military
assistance parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We do not want to
unintentionally disturb the delicate balance of power that exists
in the South Caucasus nor weaken our credibility as an impartial and
leading mediator in the Nagorno Karabakh peace process.”
“Given the fact that relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan continue
to be tenuous, it is imperative that the U.S. maintain a
balanced approach,” said Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone,
Jr. (D-NJ). “Furthermore, I am pleased that the Committee called
for a higher allocation to Armenia than that requested by the
Administration.”
The FY 2007 foreign aid bill also includes $62 million in economic aid
to Armenia and up to $5 million in humanitarian assistance to Nagorno
Karabakh. The level of funding for Armenia, although less than the
amount Congress appropriated in FY 2006, is $12 million more than
that requested by the Administration in February. In that request,
the Administration also called for an additional $1 million in FMF to
Azerbaijan over Armenia and suggested $885,000 for Azerbaijan versus
$790,000 for Armenia in IMET assistance.
The overall request level reflects a $41 million drop in assistance
for the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union, from $482
million in 2006 to $441 million in 2007.
During the House Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee
hearing in April, the Assembly submitted testimony for the hearing
record, outlining the need for Congress to continue funding to
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Additionally, the Assembly supported
a letter initiated by Pallone and Armenian Caucus Member Rep. George
Radanovich (R-CA) and co-signed by 48 additional Members of Congress,
highlighting important priorities for Armenia and Karabakh.
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.