ANCA CALLS FOR ZEROING OUT MILITARY AID TO AZERBAIJAN IN TESTIMONY TO CONGRESSIONAL FOREIGN AID PANEL

DeFacto Agency
March 26 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 26.03.08. DE FACTO. The Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) offered the Armenian American community’s perspective on six
key areas of U.S. foreign aid policy in testimony submitted to House
Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations.

ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian outlined the
recommendations of the Armenian American community to the panel,
which is currently deliberating the Fiscal Year 2009 (FY09) foreign
aid bill. Nahapetian noted the critical role the United States had
played in assisting Armenia against aggression, dating back to the
genocide. She also outlined the threats Armenia faces today, and
stressed the need to cut all military aid to Azerbaijan, because of
its recent attacks against Nagorno Karabagh and increasing indications
it plans to renew its aggression against Armenians. In the worst
cease-fire violation in over a decade, Azerbaijan attacked Karabagh
in early March, claiming the lives of at least eight people.

"Clearly, Azerbaijan should not receive U.S. military aid as long
as it threatens to use, or in fact actually employs, its large and
growing arsenal in offensive actions against Armenians," explained
Nahapetian. "Sending military aid to Azerbaijan in the face of these
threats only emboldens Baku to continue its belligerence, while, at
the same time, threatening stability, and undermining the U.S. role
as an impartial mediator," continued Nahapetian.

The six key issues Nahapetian addressed in detail in her testimony
were: 1) Zeroing out of military aid to Azerbaijan: 2) $70 Million in
Economic Support Funds for Armenia 3) $10 million in direct development
aid to Nagorno Karabagh 4) Removing barriers to U.S. relations with
Nagorno Karabagh 5) $5 million in military assistance to Armenia 6)
Maintaining Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act.