KNOLLENBERG QUESTIONS SECRETARY RICE OVER ARMENIA-AZERI MILITARY AID DISPARITY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 05 2006
WASHINGTON, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
Assembly of America (AAA) commended Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues Co-Chair Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) for questioning Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice on the disparity in military funding to
Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Administration’s Fiscal Year (FY)
2007 budget. During a hearing before the House Foreign Operations
Subcommittee on Appropriations, Knollenberg questioned Rice over the
Administration’s proposal to provide Azerbaijan with an approximately
20 percent increase in military funding over neighboring Armenia. In
her response, Rice said that the issue of need and requirement is
handled on an individual basis and that the U.S. is working with
both governments. Rice also noted that the U.S. and Armenia recently
signed a five-year $235 million Millennium Challenge Account (MCA)
Compact which will help Armenia reduce rural poverty. Rice also
added that the U.S. maintains good relations with both Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Knollenberg countered that the U.S. is a leading mediator
in the Nagorno Karabakh peace conflict, pointing out that a disparity
in military funding can damage U.S. credibility in the region. Rice,
answered in part, that slight differences in military assistance can
be tolerated between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Administration’s
2007 funding proposal for Foreign Military Financing (FMF) calls for
$4.5 million for Azerbaijan and only $3.5 million for Armenia. The
proposed budget also recommends $885,000 for Azerbaijan versus
$790,000 for Armenia in International Military Education and Training
(IMET) assistance. Congressman Jesse Jackson (D-IL) expressed concern
over the decrease in U.S. economic assistance to several countries
including Armenia. Jackson noted that the Administration requested $50
million in assistance to Armenia in FY 2007 while Congress provided
Yerevan with just under $75 million in FY 2006. “We appreciate
Congressman Knollenberg’s leadership on this critical issue,”
said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. “Given the ongoing
bellicose statements emanating from Azerbaijan, the Assembly will
continue to fight to ensure that parity is reinstated.” “We also
commend Congressman Jackson for raising concerns about the decrease
to Armenia and will continue to work with our friends in Congress to
increase this request, especially in light of the ongoing blockades
by Turkey and Azerbaijan,” Ardouny continued.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
