Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
Internet
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
March 12, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
OMNIBUS BILL MAINTAINS MILITARY AID PARITY TO ARMENIA AND
AZERBAIJAN; INCREASES AID TO NAGORNO KARABAGH
— FY2009 Aid Package includes $48 Million in Economic Aid to
Armenia – Double the Bush Administration’s Request but Still
$10 Million Short of Last Year’s Level
WASHINGTON, DC – The 2009 Appropriations bill, signed into law by
President Obama earlier this week once again maintained military
aid parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and included $48 million
in assistance to Armenia and another $8 million for Nagorno
Karabagh, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
"We would like to thank Chairwoman Lowey, Chairman Leahy, and all
the supporters of Armenian American concerns on their two panels
for reaffirming military aid parity, approving a robust aid package
for Nagorno Karabagh, and doubling the Bush Administration’s
patently insufficient $24 million aid request for Armenia," said
Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "We look forward,
in the coming year, with a new Administration in the White House,
to working with our Congressional friends to restore U.S. aid to a
level commensurate with actual needs in Armenia, the many
challenges she faces in the region, and the scope of the growing
U.S.-Armenia relationship."
The FY09 Armenia appropriation of $48 million is twice the amount
proposed by the Bush Administration, which consistently sought to
reduce U.S. support for Armenia, but still $10 million (17%) less
than the actual FY08 allocation, and $22 million (31%) short of the
$70 million proposed by the Armenian Caucus.
The Congress, in rejecting the Bush Administration’s final attempt
to break the military aid parity agreement it reached with Congress
in 2001, set Foreign Military Financing levels for both Armenia and
Azerbaijan at $3 million.
The $8 million aid figure for Nagorno Karabagh reflects the U.S.
House’s version of the foreign aid bill, crafted under the
leadership of Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), the Chairwoman of the
Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and
Related Programs, and represents a historic high-water mark in
direct U.S. support for this program.
Among the strongest supporters of Armenian American concerns on the
Senate foreign aid panel are Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ranking
Republican Judd Gregg (R-NH), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Tim Johnson
(D-SD), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Barbara
Mikulski (D-MD), and Arlen Specter (R-PA). In the House,
supporters include Chairwoman Nita Lowey, full Appropriations
Committee Chairman David Obey, Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Mark Kirk
(R-IL), Steve Israel (D-NY), Jesse Jackson (D-IL), Barbara Lee (D-
CA), Betty McCollum (R-MN), Steve Rothman (D-NJ), and Adam Schiff
(D-CA)
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
