ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF AMERICA
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
Email: anca@anca.org
Website:

PRESS RELEASE
September 11, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Email: elizabeth@anca.org

REP. BRAD SHERMAN CALLS FOR PROPOSED GEORGIA
AID PACKAGE TO INCLUDE ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA

— Bush Administration Rejects Suggestion

— Watch Rep. Sherman / Asst. Secretary Fried Exchange:
php?prid=1584

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) has
called for the Administration’s proposed post-conflict aid package
to Georgia to include assistance to Armenia, a nation he
described as an "innocent victim" in the war between Georgia
and Russia, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).

"We appreciate Congressman Sherman’s principled and persistent
efforts to ensure that the post Georgia-Russia conflict aid package
addresses the substantial economic harm inflicted upon Armenia –
estimated at up to $1 billion – in the form of drastically
increased transportation costs, higher food and fuel prices, and a
slow-down in overall investments," said Aram Hamparian, Executive
Director of the ANCA. "We are, in equal measure, disappointed by
Dan Fried’s callous and shortsighted rejection, on behalf of the
Bush Administration, of this badly-needed assistance package."

Speaking during a September 9th hearing of House Foreign Affairs
Committee, the California legislator stressed that, "in addition to
the combatants, Armenia has suffered tremendously as a result of
this war, and Armenia is totally blameless." He then asked the
Administration witness, Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fried:
"does the Administration plan on providing economic aid to Armenia
as part of this package and if so, how much?"

Fried responded by agreeing that, "Armenia has suffered as a result
of this [war]," but then rejected providing any help to offset this
damage. He explained that, "Our assistance package – our
additional assistance package does not include Armenia, but, of
course, Armenia is a significant recipient of American assistance.
I think it is the second largest or perhaps the largest per capita
recipient of American assistance in the world, and we intend to
continue strong assistance to Armenia."

Congressman Sherman, pressing further, thanked Fried for his
"soccer commentary" and then interrupted him to follow up with even
more specific questions, leading to the following exchange:

Congressman Sherman: "The estimate of the Armenian government is
that this conflict has already damaged its economy to the tune of
$680 million. How does $680 million compare to the Administration’s
Armenia aid package request for fiscal ’09?"

Assistant Secretary Fried: It’s obviously more than that.

Congressman Sherman: By a factor of 10 or factor of 15 or factor
of – or just a few percent?

Assistant Secretary Fried: A factor of 10 sounds about right, but
I don’t want to be too precise. We certainly hope — of course, I
have to look at what Armenia has in – what lies behind those large
estimates of damage. That seems pretty high, but I’d want to take a
look at this.