ANCA CONCERNED OVER REDUCTION IN US AID TO ARMENIA, NAGORNO-KARABAKH

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Dec 18 2007

YEREVAN, December 18. /ARKA/. The Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA) is concerned over the reduction of the US Congress’
aid to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh in Fiscal Year 2008.

"We are troubled by the reductions in aid to Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh, particularly in light on the ongoing economic
costs of the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, as well as Baku’s
increasingly violent rhetoric about restarting its war against the
Armenians," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

"We thank all of our friends in the appropriations process who,
working against significant competing budgetary pressures – were able
to deliver figures higher than the President’s request, and also to
maintain military aid parity," he said.

Negotiators representing the U.S. House and Senate appear to have
agreed upon Fiscal Year 2008 assistance figures for Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh.

The agreement includes $58.5 million in assistance to Armenia and
$3 million in direct aid to Nagorno-Karabakh, both at levels less
than last year. The omnibus aid bill also includes $50.5 million for
Georgia and $19 million for Azerbaijan.

On June 12th, the House adopted its version of the FY08 foreign bill,
earmarking $68 million for Armenia, $6 million in direct assistance to
Nagorno-Karabakh, and maintaining parity in the levels of U.S. military
aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The Senate version, adopted on September 6th, called for only $39
million in aid to Armenia, $4 million above the President’s request,
but considerably less than the ANCA request. The Senate bill neither
set a specific dollar amount for Nagorno-Karabakh nor addressed the
issue of military aid parity.

On June 29, 2006, the Foreign Operations Subcomittee, US Senate,
approved $58mln financial assistance to Armenia for FY 2007 – $17mln
less than in FY 2006, as well as $5mln for Nagorno-Karabakh – $2mln
more than in FY 2006.