MILITARY PARITY BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO BE PRESERVED

ArmInfo
2009-06-18 12:49:00

ArmInfo. 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.

"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.

"The Assembly commends Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) and members of
the Subcommittee for ensuring this positive outcome," said Armenian
Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "Today’s Subcommittee action
sends the right message to the people of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh,
that America will continue to assist our friends in the region,"
added Ardouny. "However, the Assembly remains concerned about the
overall level of assistance to Armenia, especially the impact of
the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC) recent decision to hold
funding on a rural roads project. The Assembly will continue to press
for increased assistance to benefit the people of Armenia."