ANCA CHAIRMAN SHARES ARMENIAN COMMUNITY’S DISAPPOINTMENT WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
19.05.2009 23:22 GMT+04:00

Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Chairman Ken Hachikian
shared with President Barack Obama today the Armenian American
community’s disappointment with his Administration’s failure to honor
his campaign pledges to recognize the Armenian Genocide and to foster
the growth and development of Armenia.

In a May 18th letter to the White House, Hachikian addressed both the
President’s decision not to honor his repeated promises to recognize
the Armenian Genocide, as well as his recent proposal to cut aid to
Armenia by 38% even as he increases overall foreign aid spending and
the level of assistance he seeks to the regions of Europe, Eurasia,
and South/Central Asia.

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.