BARACK OBAMA OFFERS TO INCREASE ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA IN 2011 FISCAL YEAR
ArmInfo
2010-02-03 08:59:00
ArmInfo President Barack Obama’s fiscal year 2011 (FY11) budget,
released earlier today, calls for $40 million in assistance to
Armenia — $10 million more than his FY10 request, but still $1
million less than the total appropriated by Congress last year,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). The
President’s budget proposes maintaining Foreign Military Financing
(FMF) assistance parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan, requesting
$3.5 million for each country. In past years, the White House has
sought to tilt the military aid balance in support of Baku, only
to have its efforts rejected by Congress, which has consistently
ensured balanced FMF figures for the two nations. As for Azerbaijan,
the President requested $22.12 million in assistance to Azerbaijan,
$120,000 more than appropriated by Congress last year. The President’s
overall assistance request for Europe and Eurasia is $599,164,000,
which represents a reduction of $11,818,000 from the previous year.
Executive Director of the ANCA Aram Hamparian welcomed this decision of
Obama’s administration. He also expressed gratitude to Representatives
Frank Pallone, Adam Schiff, Anna Eshoo, and Jackie Speier – and,
of course, Nita Lowey for their energetic efforts in sharing with
the Administration how increased aid and support for Armenia advances
both U.S. interests and American values in a strategically important
area of the world.