39 HOUSE MEMBERS URGE TO INCREASE AID TO ARMENIA AND STOP MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO AZERBAIJAN

Noyan Tapan
March 20

Thirty-nine members of the House of Representatives of the
United States of America cosigned a letter this week initiated by
Congressional Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, urging the leaders
of the U.S. House State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee
to increase aid to Armenia. This was reported by the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).

The congressmen outline six key policy priorities in their letter:

1) Cutting all military aid to Azerbaijan due to its threats of
renewed war

2) Allocating million in military aid to Armenia

3) Allocating million in economic aid to Armenia

4) Allocating million in development aid to Nagorno Karabagh

5) Restoring diplomatic relations with Nagorno Karabagh.

It should be mentioned that the 2009 budget proposed by the White
House suggests giving 24 million dollars’ economic aid to Armenia,
which is 34 million less than the established aid by Congress for the
current year and 11 million less than the preliminary suggestion of
the board of administration for 2008.

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian thanked 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.