AAA Disappointed With Washington’s Decision To Cut Aid To Armenia

AAA DISAPPOINTED WITH WASHINGTON’S DECISION TO CUT AID TO ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.05.2009 16:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Assembly of America considers incorrect
the decision of the U.S. administration to cut financial assistance
to Armenia for Fiscal Year 2010 (FY). Regional director of AAA in
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh Arpi Vartanian stated this.

"We are disappointed with that decision of administration. AAA will
cooperate with U.S. congressmen and senators in order to prevent
misbalance in the South Caucasus," stressed the regional director
of AAA, adding that U.S. administration must realize importunacy
of balance in the region. According to her, Ð~PÐ~PÐ~P will draw
administration’s attention to the fact, that Turkey and Azerbaijan
continue blockading Armenia. "We think that circumstance must be taken
into account at the moment of making decision on financial assistance,"
emphasized Arpi Vartanian.

US administration in his Fiscal Year 2010 International Affairs
budget requested cut aid to Armenia. The budget request also upsets
the balance of military aid parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In particular, the U.S. administration proposes to provide $30 million
in Economic Assistance. Additionally, the budget did not include
funding for Nagorno Karabakh, while in FY 2009 Congress approved
$8 million.

Besides, the Administration’s FY 2010 funding proposal for Foreign
Military Financing calls for $3 million for Armenia and $4 million for
Azerbaijan. The proposed budget also suggests $900,000 for Azerbaijan
versus $450,000 for Armenia in International Military Education and
Training assistance.