Armenian National Committee of America
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PRESS RELEASE
March 19, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
39 HOUSE MEMBERS URGE INCREASED AID TO ARMENIA; DEVELOPMENT AID TO
NAGORNO KARABAGH
— Armenian Caucus Led Effort Urges Cutting all Military Aid to
Azerbaijan; Encourages Steps Toward U.S. Diplomatic Ties with
Nagorno Karabagh
WASHINGTON, DC – 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 Karabagh by trying to block nearly all U.S. contacts and
communication with the people and democratically elected leaders of
the Nagorno Karabagh 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 Karabagh
6) Restoring diplomatic relations with Nagorno Karabagh
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).
A copy of the letter is available on the ANCA website at:
dlet_0308.pdf
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.
For a seven-page ANCA briefing memo on Armenian American foreign
aid priorities, visit:
reignaid.pdf
To read four one-page ANCA issue briefs regarding Nagorno Karabagh,
visit:
sc/NKR_issuebrief_0308.pdf
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