39 HOUSE MEMBERS URGE INCREASED AID TO ARMENIA AND NAGORNO KARABAKH

armradio.am
20.03.2008 10:53

Thirty-nine House members cosigned a letter this week initiated by
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI) urging the leaders of the U.S. House 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).

"We want to thank Congressmen Knollenberg and Pallone and all
those who joined with the Armenian Caucus in this initiative
to promote a balanced and constructive path toward peace and
development in the Caucasus region," said ANCA Executive Director
Aram Hamparian. "Armenian Americans look forward to working hard
to help enact the foreign aid priorities outlined in this letter,
including, notably, the bipartisan effort to put an end to the
artificial diplomatic isolation that the Azerbaijani government has
sought to impose upon Nagorno Karabakh by trying to block nearly all
U.S. contacts and communication with the people and democratically
elected leaders of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic."

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 Karabakh

6) Restoring diplomatic relations with Nagorno Karabakh

Joining Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Pallone and Knollenberg were
Representatives Joe Baca (D-CA), Lois Capps (D-CA), Michael Capuano
(D-MA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA),
Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Elton Gallegly (R-CA), Scott
Garrett (R-NJ), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Dale Kildee
(D-MI), Mark Kirk (R-IL), James Langevin (D-RI), Sander Levin (D-MI),
Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY),
Edward Markey (D-MA), James McGovern (D MA), Michael McNulty (D-NY),
Candice Miller (R-MI), Grace Napolitano (D- CA), Collin Peterson
(D-MN), George Radanovich (R-CA), Mike Rogers (R-MI), Bobby Rush
(D-IL), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Brad Sherman (D- CA), Mark Souder (R-IN),
Christopher Van Hollen (D-MD), Timothy Walz (D-MN), Diane Watson
(D-CA), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and Lynn Woolsey
(D-CA).