Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
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PRESS RELEASE

June 17, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

HOUSE PANEL MAINTAINS AID LEVEL TO ARMENIA; REVERSES
ADMINISTRATION PUSH TO TILT MILITARY AID BALANCE TOWARD BAKU

— Allocates $48 Million for Armenia and $10 Million for Karabagh

WASHINGTON, DC – The House Appropriations Subcommittee responsible
for U.S. foreign aid policy, this morning, voted to maintain U.S.
economic assistance to Armenia at last year’s level of $48 million
and to increase humanitarian assistance to Nagorno Karabagh to an
unprecedented annual allocation of $10 million, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The Subcommittee voted to maintain military assistance parity to
Armenia and Azerbaijan, keeping foreign military financing to both
countries at $3 million. The panel chose not to accept President
Obama’s proposals, included in the FY10 budget that he released
earlier this year, to reduce economic aid to Armenia by 38%, from
$48 million $30 million, and to tilt the military aid balance in
favor of Azerbaijan.

The Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related
Programs, which is chaired by Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), also
strengthened language governing the President’s authority to waive
Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, a provision of law that
restricts aid to Azerbaijan due to its blockades and other
offensive actions against Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. The new
language, according those close to the work of the subcommittee,
will require closer Congressional consultation prior to any future
waivers of this law.

"We value Chairwoman Lowey’s leadership and the efforts of Rep.
Adam Schiff, Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Mark Kirk, Representatives
Steve Rothman, Jesse Jackson Jr, Betty McCollum, Barbara Lee, Steve
Israel, and our many friends on the Subcommittee for constructively
working to address our community’s foreign aid priorities," said
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We are gratified that the
panel restored military aid parity, met the Armenian Caucus request
of $10 million for Nagorno Karabagh, and strengthened the waiver
language for Section 907. We will, in the coming days, seek to
build on this progress by working with our friends on the Senate
side to bring the economic aid figure to Armenia up to the $70
million level requested by the Armenian Caucus."

House Members Welcome proposed Foreign Aid Bill
——————————————— —

Soon after the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee’s action,
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and
Mark Kirk (R-IL) hailed the panel’s actions.

"I commend the efforts of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee
Chairwoman Nita Lowey and Ranking Member Kay Granger to restore
military parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan," said Rep. Pallone.
"Their bi-partisan leadership, along with co-chair Mark Kirk and
Congressman Adam Schiff, strengthens the U.S.-Armenia relationship
by paving the way for economic aid to Armenia and assistance to
Nagorno Karabakh during this global recession."

"As the Armenian Government prepares to send troops to join the
NATO mission in Afghanistan, our Committee worked in a bipartisan
fashion to provide robust economic and security assistance to this
strong U.S. ally," noted Subcommittee member Kirk. "In addition,
our Committee sent a strong message to the Government of Azerbaijan
to keep its commitment to the OSCE peace process, end its bellicose
rhetoric and stop meddling in the U.S.-backed Armenian-Turkish
reconciliation process. I want to thank Chairwoman Lowey, Ranking
Member Granger, Rep. Schiff, Rep. Pallone and others for their
strong bipartisan support for the U.S.-Armenia relationship."

Rep. Schiff concurred, noting that, "This is important funding that
will help ensure peace and greater economic stability in the
Caucasus," said Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA). "Armenia and
Nagorno Karabagh are important partners in a troubled and
economically stagnant region, and this funding will go a long way
towards strengthening these emerging democracies."

In an April 3, 2009 letter sent to the panel earlier this year,
members of the Armenian Caucus, co-chaired by Representatives Frank
Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), called for strengthening
Section 907, allocating $70 million in economic aid to Armenia, $5
million in assistance to Armenia’s military, $10 million in
development aid to Nagorno Karabagh, and the removal of official
barriers to U.S.-Nagorno Karabagh contacts and communications.

A copy of the letter can be viewed at:
ses.php?prid=1678