U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS APPROVED $18 MILLION REDUCTION IN FUNDING TO ARMENIA
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
10.07.2009 12:20 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 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.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
