US AMBASSADOR JUSTIFIES VIOLATION OF MILITARY ASSISTANCE PARITY FOR YEREVAN AND BAKU
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
12.05.2009 20:26 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ US Ambassador to Armenia Mari Yovanovich justifies
violation of military assistance parity for Yerevan and Baku.
"Regarding military assistance, the Administration’s FMF request
for Armenia in FY 2010 is the same level as Armenia 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,"
she stated.
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.