Armenian Assembly of America
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PRESS RELEASE

July 9, 2009
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: mzachariades@aaainc.org
Phone: (202) 393-3434

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE APPROVES $30 MILLION FOR ARMENIA

Armenian Assembly Seeks Increase

Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations
approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 State, Foreign Operations
Appropriations Bill by a vote of 29 to 1, reported the Armenian Assembly
of America (Assembly). The Bill provides $30 million for Armenia, which
is $18 million less than the FY 2009 level.

"U.S. assistance to Armenia helps to offset the impact of Turkey’s
ongoing blockade of Armenia, and the Assembly will continue to work with
both the Senate and House to ensure the best possible outcome for
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny.

The Senate followed the lead of the Obama Administration, which proposed
a sharp reduction in funding to Armenia from last year’s level of $48
million. The Senate bill also mirrored the Administration’s request with
respect to assistance to Azerbaijan, calling for $22 million.

According to Assembly sources, at the time of this release, Foreign
Military Financing (FMF) and International Military Education Training
(IMET) were not delineated for Armenia and Azerbaijan. Although the
numbers are not currently available, the Assembly expects military
parity to be maintained. Sources also indicate that language pertaining
to Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, which was strengthened by the
House Appropriations Committee last month, will remain in place.

The full U.S. House of Representatives is currently deliberating its
version of the State Foreign Operations Bill with passage expected later
tonight. A House-Senate Conference Committee will be formed to work out
the differences in the two bills before it is sent to the President to
be signed into law.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c) (3)
tax-exempt membership organization.

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NR#2009-058