Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email. [email protected]
Internet
PRESS RELEASE
October 27, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
LAWMAKERS REINFORCE REQUEST TO FOREIGN AID CONFEREES TO ALLOCATE $48
MILLION FOR ARMENIA; $10 MILLION FOR NAGORNO KARABAGH
— Reps. Pallone and LoBiondo Lead Bipartisan Congressional Effort
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone
(D-NJ) and New Jersey Republican Frank LoBiondo were joined by dozens
of their House Colleagues in urging Senate and House Appropriations
Committee leaders to maintain $48 million in U.S. assistance to
Armenia, increased aid to Nagorno Karabagh, and continued military
assistance parity to Armenia and Azerbaijan in the fiscal year (FY)
2010 foreign aid bill, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).
"We want to thank Congressmen Pallone and Lobiondo for leading this
bipartisan outreach to members of the State- Foreign Operations
Subcommittee – and also to express our appreciation to our friends
serving on this panel, including Nita Lowey, Adam Schiff, Mark Kirk,
Steve Rothman, and Jesse Jackson – for their work in support of the
pro-Armenia provisions in the FY2010 foreign aid bill," said Aram
Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "We are hopeful that the
conference committee, which will be called to reconcile the Senate and
House versions of this legislation, will approve the higher House
figures for aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, endorse the House’s
decision to maintain military aid parity between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, and support the House language reaffirming Section 907 of
the Freedom Support Act."
Earlier this year, both the House and Senate adopted their versions of
the FY 2010 foreign aid bill, with the House adopting higher figures
for Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh and including new language
reaffirming Section 907 restriction on U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan,
due to that country’s ongoing blockade of Armenia.
In an October 26th letter to the Chairs and Ranking Republicans of the
Senate and House foreign aid subcommittees, the House Members cited
the "approximately $680 million loss resulting from the Russia-Georgia
conflict. We are reminded that Armenia provided humanitarian,
diplomatic and economic assistance to Georgia, facilitated the safe
transit for U.S. and international officials, and helped rebuild
damaged Georgian infrastructure."
In expressing its support for $3.45 million in military assistance to
Armenia, the Congressional letter stated: "Armenia’s cooperation in
anti-terrorism efforts and its deployment of forces to both Iraq and
Kosovo are pivotal to U.S. interests. Armenia has entered into a NATO
Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) and has worked closely with
both NATO and the Defense Department on a range of bilateral and
multilateral agreements, joint training programs, and military
exercises."
Joining Reps. Pallone and LoBiondo in signing the Congressional letter
were: Bruce Braley (D-IA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA),
Jim Costa (D-CA), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Chakah
Fattah (D- PA), Elton Gallegly (R-CA), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Rush Holt
(D-NJ), James Langevin (D-RI), Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), Stephen Lynch
(D-MA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Ed Markey (D- MA), James McGovern
(D-MA), Candice Miller (R-MI), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Collin
Peterson (D-MN), Garry Peters (D- MI), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Jan
Schakowsky (D-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Mark Souder (R-IN), Jackie
Speier (D-CA), Tim Walz (D-MN), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Anthony Weiner
(D- NY), and Frank Wolf (R-VA).
#####
Text of Congressional letter on Foreign Aid to Armenia
October 26, 2009
Representative Nita Lowey
Chair
House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of
State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs
US Capitol, HB-26
Washington, DC 20515
Representative Kay Granger
Ranking Member
House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of
State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs
1016 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Senator Patrick Leahy
Chair
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of
State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs
127 Dirksen Senate Office Building,
Washington, DC 20510
Senator Judd Gregg
Ranking Member
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of
State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs
125 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
We believe it is important that Congress demonstrates
bipartisan support for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh in the
Subcommittee on the Department of State, Foreign Operations
and Related Programs. We are writing to urge you to support
the House version of the fiscal year (FY) 2010 Department
of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs bill
concerning critical funding for Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh.
The House version allocates $48 million to Armenia in
economic assistance (ESF) that provides important support
for Armenia in the face of Turkey and Azerbaijan’s dual
blockades. Additionally, this aid will help Armenia recover
from the approximately $680 million loss resulting from the
Russia-Georgia conflict. We are reminded that Armenia
provided humanitarian, diplomatic and economic assistance
to Georgia, facilitated the safe transit for U.S. and
international officials, and helped rebuild damaged
Georgian infrastructure.
The House version also provides $3 million in Foreign
Military Financing (FMF) and $450,000 in International
Military Education and Training (IMET) that will allow the
U.S.-Armenia military relationship continue to expand in
scope and depth. Armenia’s cooperation in anti-terrorism
efforts and its deployment of forces to both Iraq and
Kosovo are pivotal to U.S. interests. Armenia has entered
into a NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) and
has worked closely with both NATO and the Defense
Department on a range of bilateral and multilateral
agreements, joint training programs, and military
exercises.
We also commend the House for inserting language regarding
Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act in opposition to
Azerbaijan’s blockade and support for Congressional
authority over aid to Azerbaijan. Finally, we strongly back
the House’s concern for the plight of the victims of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the direction of $10 million
to address ongoing humanitarian needs in that troubled
region.
We thank you for your support of Armenia and
the US-Armenia strategic relationship. Thank you for your
attention to this letter.
Sincerely,