PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
February 1, 2010
Contact: Press Department
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY CALLS FOR ROBUST AID AS ADMINISTRATION’S BUDGET
INCLUDES $40 MILLION FOR ARMENIA AND ASYMMETRICAL MILITARY ASSISTANCE
Washington, DC – Today, the Administration released its budget for
Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, which includes $40 million in economic
assistance to Armenia, announced the Armenian Assembly of America.
This amount reflects a $10 million increase over the Administration’s
request from last year, and is $1 million less than the level enacted
in FY 2010.
"Given the ongoing blockades imposed upon Armenia by Turkey and
Azerbaijan, coupled with Armenia’s constructive and bold actions to
normalize relations with Turkey without preconditions, at the same
time Azerbaijan has done all it can to thwart that process as well as
continuing to incite a new war against Armenians the Assembly renews
its request for not less than $70 million for Armenia," stated
Assembly Executive Director, Bryan Ardouny.
The Administration’s budget also repeated its asymmetrical request
with respect to military parity between Armenian and Azerbaijan by
calling for nearly one-half million more in military assistance to
Azerbaijan, which breaches long-standing Congressional policy. The
budget calls for $450,000 for International Military Education
Training (IMET) for Armenia and $900,000 for Azerbaijan, while
maintaining $3.5 million each in Foreign Military Financing (FMF).
As was the case in FY 2010, the Administration did not specifically
allocate funding for Nagorno Karabakh, of which Congress had called
for up to $8 million in U.S. assistance.
"We look forward to working with our friends in Congress to ensure
robust assistance to Armenia and Karabakh," added Congressional
Relations Associate Bianka Dodov. "We need to strengthen and expand
the U.S.-Armenia relationship and make certain that Armenia has the
tools necessary to succeed," added Dodov.
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.