Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: info@aaainc.org
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
March 13, 2008
Contact: Christine Kojoian
Email: ckojoian@aaainc.org
Phone: (202) 393-3434
CONGRESSMEN SCHIFF, KNOLLENBERG QUESTION SECRETARY RICE OVER
ADMINISTRATION’S BUDGET REQUEST FOR ARMENIA
Washington, DC – In a hearing yesterday before the State, Foreign
Operations Appropriations Subcommittee in the House of
Representatives, lawmakers raised a series of concerns regarding the
Administration’s FY 2009 budget proposal for Armenia. Congressmen Adam
Schiff (D-CA) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) raised pointed questions
regarding the Administration’s proposal to provide Azerbaijan with
increased military funding over Armenia.
Schiff asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice how the U.S. can
justify providing Azerbaijan $900,000 versus only $300,000 for Armenia
in Military Education and Training (IMET) assistance. He specifically
cited Azerbaijan’s ongoing war rhetoric and large increases in
military spending as reason against favoring Baku over Yerevan with
additional security funding.
Azeri 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.
Knollenberg said it is "not just the rhetoric [from Azerbaijan] but
the threat of war," that is most troubling. He said Azerbaijan’s
recent cease fire violations were the worst in 10 years, adding that
the U.S. should consider discontinuing military funding to Azerbaijan
altogether.
"We should either take away military funding to Azerbaijan or threaten
to stop it as long as they are threatening Armenia," Knollenberg said,
explaining that it is now time to take drastic steps. Knollenberg,
along with Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), also
issued a strong statement yesterday regarding Azerbaijan’s cease-fire
violations.
In separate responses to the lawmakers, Secretary Rice said the
Administration believes that the request levels for Armenia and
Azerbaijan are appropriate. Noting concerns with the recent state of
emergency in Armenia, Rice also made reference to the suspension of
some U.S. assistance programs to Armenia, and indicated that the
Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) funding could be put at jeopardy.
"During this critical time, the U.S. should do more to help Armenia’s
democratic institutions," said Knollenberg, Co-Chair of the Armenian
Caucus.
Congressman Schiff added, "the Administration’s justification for
reduced aid to Armenia is not a solution."
The Administration’s budget slashed funding to Armenia by nearly 60
percent from $58.5 million in FY 2008 to a proposed level of $24
million in FY 2009. The budget request also called for more military
funding for Azerbaijan; a clear breach of the agreement reached with
Congress in 2001 regarding military parity for both countries.
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny thanked Congressmen Schiff and
Knollenberg for raising strong concerns with the Administration’s
spending plan with Secretary Rice.
"We thank both lawmakers for their leadership on this important
issue. Providing asymmetrical military assistance to Azerbaijan
violates the will of Congress, subverts the short- and long-term
U.S. policy goals for the South Caucasus region, and will only serve
to legitimize Azerbaijan’s ongoing blockades against Armenia and
Karabakh," Ardouny added.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America 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.
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NR#2008-030
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress