US CONGRESS TO HOLD HEARINGS FOR DETERMINING VOLUMES OF AID TO BE PROVIDED TO ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
09.06.2009 18:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In fiscal year 2010, Obama Administration plans
to allocate to Armenia financial assistance in the amount of $ 30
million. The sum exceeds last years’ allocations by $ 6 million or 20%
percent, Philip Gordon, US Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia
Affairs, told journalists today. "US Congress will hold hearing devoted
to the issue, so it’s better to wait till they are over. I think,
amounts for financial assistance will increase after the hearing,"
American diplomat noted.

US Ambassador to Armenia Mary Jovanovich noted in her turn that budget
for fiscal year 2010 has not yet been approved, hence no predictions
can be made in advance. "All I can say is that Administration has
decided to provide large-scale financial assistance to Azerbaijan,
considering its interests in Caspian Basin. Besides, US and Azerbaijan
are implementing a number of joint projects in many spheres,"
Jovanovich stressed.

US Administration reduced amounts of financial assistance to Armenia
for fiscal year 2010. Draft budget also breaches parity principle in
providing military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan. In particular,
US Administration proposes $ 30 million to Armenia for fiscal year
2010. Furthermore, budget does not contain clause on providing military
assistance to Nagorno Karabakh, whereas last year’s allocations to
the country comprised USD 8 million.

In the meantime, US Administrations proposes military assistance
in the amount of USD 3 million to Armenia and USD 4 million – to
Azerbaijan. Within the frames of Military training program (IMET)
Armenia and Azerbaijan will receive $450 thousand and $900 thousand
respectively.