USA PROMISED TO WORK OUT HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO BE PROVIDED TO NKR AFTERWARDS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
12.05.2009 20:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "In response to news reports carried recently by
several media outlets regarding assistance from the United States
for Armenia, I would like to inform you of the following: 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," US
Ambassador to Armenia Mari Yovanovich stated.

"With respect to funding for Nagorno-Karabakh, 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.

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."

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.