SPENDING PLAN CALLS FOR $24 MILLION IN ECONOMIC AID TO ARMENIA, PROVIDES ASYMMETRICAL MILITARY ASSISTANCE
AZG Armenian Daily
06/02/2008
International
Washington, DC – Given Armenia’s support in the global war against
terrorism as well as the ongoing attempts by Turkey and Azerbaijan
to isolate Armenia, the Armenian Assembly of America today expressed
its opposition to the Administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Budget.
As in years past, the Budget proposal calls for asymmetrical military
assistance to Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Administration’s spending
plan recommends $3 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to
both countries, but Azerbaijan is slated to receive $600,000 more
than Armenia ($300,000) in Military Education and Training (IMET)
assistance.
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev recently proclaimed that "Armenia
did not win the war. The war is not over. Only the first stage of the
war has been completed." He added that Nagorno Karabakh will never
be independent."Given Azerbaijan’s increased war rhetoric, I have
strong concerns with giving any military aid to Azerbaijan, and we
definitely should not give them more than we’re providing Armenia,"
stated Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI). "I will work
with my colleagues to ensure that Armenia has the resources needed to
continue to strengthen its democracy as well as ensure its security,"
continued Knollenberg.
The FY 2009 Budget also calls for $24 million in economic assistance
to Armenia, the lowest request to date made by the Administration. The
figure represents $34 million less than what Congress approved last
year, and $11 million less than the Administration’s request in
FY 2008.
Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny echoed Congressman
Knollenberg’s concerns, stating: "President Bush missed an important
opportunity to demonstrate that his Administration is serious about a
policy of regional cooperation and economic integration in the region."
"Azerbaijan’s continued threats to resume war, undermines
U.S. objectives in the region and I am confident that Congress will
reject this approach," Ardouny added. "In a budget that calls for
over $39 billion in the International Affairs account, $24 million
for Armenia is woefully inadequate. Rather than reduce funding to
Armenia, we urge the Administration to work with Congress to end the
dual blockades imposed upon her by Turkey and Azerbaijan."
Today’s announcement is the first step in a lengthy budget process. The
next step is for the House and Senate to review the Administration’s
request through committee hearings.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.