Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email anca@anca.org
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
March 11, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ARMENIAN CAUCUS RALLIES SUPPORT FOR ARMENIAN AID PRIORITIES

— Seeks Development of U.S.-Nagorno Karabagh Diplomatic Relations

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Frank
Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) are currently collecting
signatures among their House colleagues on a letter urging the
leaders of the U.S. State-Foreign Operations Appropriations
Subcommittee to support provisions in the FY09 foreign aid bill
that advance U.S. interests and American values in Armenia and the
surrounding region, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).

The letter, addressed to Subcommittee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY)
and Ranking Member Frank Wolf (R-VA), outlines six key policy
priorities:

1) Cutting all military aid to Azerbaijan due to its threats of
renewed war
2) Allocating $5 million in military aid to Armenia
3) Continuing Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act
4) Allocating $70 million in economic aid to Armenia
5) Allocating $10 million in development aid to Nagorno Karabagh
6) Restoring diplomatic relations with Nagorno Karabagh

The budget proposed by the White House last month sought to
dramatically slash aid to Armenia by 59%, and, once again, proposed
tipping the military aid balance in favor of Azerbaijan, despite
Baku’s threats to use it growing military arsenal to restart its
war against Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. Last week’s renewed
attacks by the Azerbaijani army in the area of Levonarkh in
Mardakert, led to as many as eight deaths. The Nagorno Karabagh
Foreign Ministry has asked that the "OSCE launch a comprehensive
investigation of the incident, give an official political
evaluation of the Azeri authorities’ actions, as well as conduct an
immediate crisis-monitoring in the incident zone, in order to
prevent similar violations in future."

Members of Congress, led by the Armenian Caucus, are seeking to
reverse the proposed cut in aid to Armenia and to enact a
constructive set of foreign policies toward Armenia and the region.

Citizens seeking to reverse the President’s proposed cut in aid to
Armenia and support the other aid priorities in the Armenian Caucus
letter, can send a free ANCA WebFax to their elected officials in
Washington today:
d=11011351&type=CO

For a seven-page ANCA briefing memo on Armenian American foreign
aid priorities, visit:
reignaid.pdf

#####