HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE CALLS FOR AT LEAST $5 MILLION IN AID TO NAGORNO KARABAKH: $40 MILLION IN AID TO ARMENIA
ARMENPRESS
17 May, 2012
YEREVAN
ARMENPRESS, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. Today, the House Appropriations
Committee released the details of its draft Fiscal Year (FY) 2013
State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, which calls for “at
least” $5 million in assistance to Nagorno Karabakh and includes
“not less than” $40 million in assistance to Armenia, reported the
Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
Reports “Armenpress” citing Armenian National Assembly. Overall
funding in the Appropriations Bill, which will be considered by the
full Committee tomorrow, was reduced by 5 percent when compared to
last year. In addition, bilateral assistance was cut by $1.1 billion,
and is $3 billion below the President’s request for FY 2013. However,
despite these reductions and the continued downward trend, funding
for Armenia was specifically highlighted, and remains consistent with
the FY 2012 enacted level of $40 million.
In addition to the $40 million, parity in military assistance to
Armenia and Azerbaijan was also maintained in the Foreign Military
Financing (FMF) and International Military Education and Training
(IMET) accounts and reflects the Administration’s request of $2.7
million in FMF and $600,000 in IMET funding to each country. State
and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Kay
Granger (R-TX) stated: “This is a tough, effective national security
bill that continues to cut spending, reform our aid programs,
and demand accountability from our partners and allies. This bill
reflects principled funding decisions that give the United States the
flexibility to respond to a rapidly changing world while making sure
our foreign aid is not a blank check for foreign governments who do
not support our national security priorities.”
When compared to the Administration’s budget request, which reduced
funding by 18 percent across-the-board in Europe, Eurasia and Central
Asia countries, the Committee’s draft Bill is a welcomed development.
The Administration’s request for Armenia, including military assistance
(FMF and IMET), totaled $35.843 million.
Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), a Member of the House Appropriations
Committee, told the Assembly: “Working with Chairwoman Granger
and Ranking Member Lowey and with the support of my colleagues,
the Appropriations bill provides a balanced approach to the South
Caucasus region. I am particularly pleased that funding for Nagorno
Karabakh is specifically defined and that funding for the Javakheti
region in the Republic of Georgia, which includes a large and vibrant
Armenian population, will be reviewed with a strategy recommended
for future development. Given the cuts to the overall budget this
year, I fought hard to make sure that adequate levels of funding for
Armenia remained.”
“U.S. assistance programs to Armenia and Artsakh have played
a critically important role, especially in the face of the dual
blockades imposed by Turkey and Azerbaijan,” stated the Assembly’s
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. “Given the overall budget reductions,
the Assembly appreciates the work of Subcommittee Chair Granger and
Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY) to maintain adequate support to
Armenia,” Ardouny continued.
“We especially commend Congressman Schiff for his tireless
dedication on behalf of the Armenian people,” added Ardouny. The
Bill’s report language also called for at least $5 million in
“humanitarian and development programs in Nagorno-Karabakh,” which
the Assembly advocated for in its testimony submitted before the
House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations
on March 30th. In addition, the Committee reiterated the importance
of confidence-building measures and specifically urged “all parties
to refrain from threats of violence.” “The Assembly remains deeply
concerned about Azerbaijan’s incessant anti-Armenian rhetoric and
continued cease-fire violations,” stated Ardouny. The Appropriations
Bill also restated the six customary exemptions for humanitarian and
other assistance to Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. Section
907 was enacted in 1992 and requires the Government of Azerbaijan to
take “demonstrable steps to cease all blockades and other offensive
uses of force” against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Earlier this
year, a bipartisan letter spearheaded by Armenian Caucus Co-Chair
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) urged the House Appropriations Committee
to provide robust funding for Armenia and “at least $5 million” for
“humanitarian and development assistance” to Nagorno Karabakh.
The letter also discussed funding for the Armenian community in
the Javakheti region of Georgia as well as Christian communities
at risk in the Middle East; the U.S.-Armenia military relationship
and Armenia’s cooperation in anti-terrorism efforts; Azerbaijan’s
ongoing war rhetoric and cease-fire violations; and the importance
of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. Upon passage by the House
Appropriations Committee, the Bill must next clear the full House of
Representatives and then be reconciled with its counterpart in the
Senate. Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the
largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues.