ANCA SEEKS TO INCREASE ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA IN FY 2008

ArmRadio.am
22.06.2007 17:51

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is working with
US Congressmen to increase the financing to Armenia in Fiscal Year
2008. ANCA Communications Director Elizabeth Chouldjian told Armenpress
that they are doing their best to have the House Appropriations
Committee allocate $75 million in aid to Armenia and $10 million –
to Nagorno Karabakh.

Teh bill will be considered in the House of Representatives before
the July vacation.

Let us remind that the House Appropriations Committee approved $68
million in economic assistance to Armenia, a nearly $35 million
jump from the Administration’s request, but less than the nearly $75
million Congress appropriated in FY 2007. Lawmakers also slated up to
$6 million in humanitarian aid for Nagorno Karabakh and renewed its
strong support for confidence-building measures among the parties to
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The Committee restored the parity of
military aid to Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"This bill provides important funding for Armenia and Karabakh and
maintains parity in military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan,"
said Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI),
co-chairs of the Armenian Caucus. "We are also pleased that economic
aid to Armenia exceeds the Administration’s request and will continue
working with our colleagues to ensure that it meets last year’s
funding level of nearly $75 million."

It’s worth mentioning that other Armenian American organizations are
also lobbying for the increase of the assistance to Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress