MARIE L. YOVANOVITCH: US REMAINS COMMITTED TO ITS LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH ARMENIA

armradio.am
12.05.2009 16:53

In response to news reports carried recently by several media outlets
regarding assistance from the United States for Armenia, US Ambassador
to Armenia Marie L. Yovanovitch reminded that since international
assistance to Armenia began over twenty years ago with the relief
effort following the 1988 earthquake, the U.S.

government has provided almost two billion dollars of humanitarian
aid and development assistance for Armenia’s economic, social
and governance sectors. "The Obama Administration’s request for
Armenia for FY 2010 ($30 million) is 25 percent above the last Bush
Administration budget request ($24 million was requested for FY 2009;
Congress doubled this request to $48 million). The actual level of
assistance for Armenia for FY 2010 has not yet been determined by
the U.S. Congress," the Ambassador said.

With respect to funding for Nagorno-Karabakh, Ambassador Yovanovitch
said "there has never been a budget request sent to Congress because
there is no mechanism for doing so in the budget process. Rather,
the humanitarian assistance provided to Nagorno-Karabakh is worked
out afterwards, during the budget negotiation between Congress and
the Administration."

"Regarding military assistance, the Administration’s FMF request
for Armenia in FY 2010 is the same level as20Armenia received in FY
2009. There has been no decrease. The specific increase for Azerbaijan
is linked to U.S. priorities in peacekeeping and maritime security,
particularly regarding proliferation and drug trafficking on the
Caspian Sea. The respective levels requested for Armenia and Azerbaijan
are carefully considered and calibrated to ensure that they do not
adversely affect the military balance in the region or undermine
efforts for a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict;
they do, however, provide appropriate assistance to each country that
will enhance their interoperability and military professionalism,"
the Ambassador stated.

According to Marie L. Yovanovitch, the United States remains committed
to its longstanding partnership with Armenia and the Armenian people.

"Helping the people of Armenia has been, and continues to be, a high
priority," she concluded.