Legislators request increased assistance to Armenia and Artsakh
armradio.am
26.03.2010 11:12
With Congressional appropriators in the early stages of crafting the
Fiscal Year 2011 (FY11) foreign aid bill, Congressional Armenian
Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) was joined by 27 of his U.S.
House colleagues in urging the inclusion of a series of provisions
aimed at strengthening U.S. ties to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh and
bolstering the prospects for a lasting regional peace, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
"We want to thank Representative Pallone for his leadership and to
express our appreciation to each of his colleagues who joined in this
effort, including, of course, Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Mark Kirk,
for helping to ensure that the foreign aid bill properly reflects
America’s support for Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh," said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We look forward to working toward
the adoption of the vital foreign aid priorities outlined in this
letter."
In a March 22nd letter to Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chairwoman
Nita Lowey (D-NY), a longstanding supporter of the U.S.-Armenia
relationship, and Ranking Republican Kay Granger (R-TX), lawmakers
cited six key foreign aid priorities, including:
– Increasing U.S. assistance to Armenia to $70 million in Fiscal Year 2011.
– Directing USAID to spend $10 million in Fiscal Year 2011 for
humanitarian and development programs in Nagorno Karabakh.
– Enhancing Section 907 restrictions on U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan
by narrowing presidential waiver authority of themeasure.
– Upholding the Committee’s long-standing tradition of maintaining
parity in military funding between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which
includes $4 million in FMF and $1 million in IMET funding for Armenia
in Fiscal Year 2011.
– Ending restrictions on travel, contacts, and the free exchange of
ideas between U.S. officials and the democratically elected leaders of
Nagorno Karabakh.
– Requesting language urging Azerbaijan to support confidence-building
measures that facilitate interaction among the parties, in order to
address regional security, resource management, infrastructure,
development and people to people programs.
Joining Rep. Pallone in cosigning the letter were Joe Baca (D-CA),
Bruce Braley (D-IA), John Conyers (D-MI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Anna Eshoo
(D-CA), Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Elton Gallegly
(R-CA), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Mark Kirk (R-IL),
James Langevin (D-FL), Frank Lobiondo (R-NJ), Stephen Lynch (D-MA),
Carolyn Maloney (D-FL), Ed Markey (D-MA), James McGovern (D-MA), Grace
Napolitano (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), George Radanovich (R-CA),
Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Brad Sherman (D-CA),
Jackie Speier (D-CA), Tim Walz (D-MN), Henry Waxman (D-CA), and Lynn
Woolsey (D-CA).