HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE APPROVES MILITARY PARITY FOR ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
ArmRadio.am
07.06.2007 10:37
The Armenian Assembly of America commended the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs for
maintaining military aid parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as
other key provisions.
The Subcommittee approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 State, Foreign
Operations Appropriations Bill, signaling to Administration officials the
necessity to maintain the careful balance between the neighboring countries.
The Administration, in its budget request to Congress, called for $5.3
million in military aid for Azerbaijan versus only $3.3 million for Armenia.
The Subcommittee action would allocate $3.3 million in military assistance
to both countries, specifically $3 million in Foreign Military Financing
(FMF) and $300,000 in International Military Education and Training (IMET).
"We commend Subcommittee Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) and Ranking Member
Frank R. Wolf (R-VA) and the members of the Subcommittee for maintaining
military parity, which was envisioned as part of the conditional waiver of
Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act," said Assembly Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny. "Azerbaijan’s unabated war rhetoric, despite U.S. demands to
cease such provocative actions remains troubling," Ardouny continued. "We
also strongly encourage Congress to continue to vigorously monitor this
critical issue to ensure that the principle of military and security parity
is maintained throughout all funding areas. Azerbaijan has rejected numerous
proposals by Armenia for confidence-building measures, and instead has
dramatically increased its military spending. Further, should Azerbaijan not
cease its anti-Armenian rhetoric, we urge Congress to suspend the waiver
authority it granted and reinstate Section 907."
The panel also approved $68 million in assistance to Armenia, which is
almost twice the Administration’s proposed level of $35 million, but less
than the nearly $75 million Congress approved in FY 2007. The Subcommittee
also approved $6 million in humanitarian assistance for Nagorno Karabakh. In
March of this year, Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) along
with 30 of his colleagues [letter attached], sent a letter to Chairwoman
Lowey and Ranking Member Wolf urging $10 million for assistance to Nagorno
Karabakh, including development assistance, and not less than $75 million to
Armenia in the FY 2008 Bill. The Armenian Assembly reinforced this request
in its testimony before the Subcommittee [see attached Assembly testimony],
and was one of 16 organizations invited to testify before the panel.
The bill also provides continued funding for the Millennium Challenge
Account program (MCA), which is aimed to bolster democracy, human rights and
market economies of developing countries. The panel provided $1.8 billion,
while the Administration sought $3 billion. Armenia, based on its record of
performance in key indicators, is a recipient of MCA with a five-year
$235.65 million compact to reduce rural poverty and increase agricultural
productivity.
"We applaud the efforts of the Armenian Caucus, led by Congressmen Frank
Pallone, Jr. and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) to ensure appropriate funding levels
for Armenia as well as Karabakh, including a shift to development
assistance," said Ardouny. "As the Bill works its way through the
legislative process, we will continue to work to bring Armenia’s funding up
to last year’s level." Noting the international praise Armenia received for
the conduct of its recent parliamentary elections, Ardouny also urged the
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to expeditiously implement the
compact, which will impact the lives of thousands of Armenians.
The full Committee is expected to consider the bill next week, with action
by the entire House of Representatives expected before the July
congressional recess.