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Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 23, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
CONGRESS FINALIZES FY2005 FOREIGN AID BILL
-- Reverses Administration's Effort to Break
Military Aid Parity for Armenia and Azerbaijan
-- Earmarks $75 Million in Economic, $8.75 Million
in Military Aid to Armenia; an Additional $3 Million
for Nagorno Karabagh
-- Fails to Include Schiff Amendment on the Armenian Genocide
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Congress this past weekend adopted an
Omnibus spending measure including several provisions of special
interest to Armenian Americans - including the reversal of a White
House proposal to tip the balance of U.S. military aid toward
Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
The Bush Administration, in the budget it submitted to Congress in
February of this year, had proposed sending four times more Foreign
Military Financing to Azerbaijan ($8 million) than to Armenia ($2
million). The final version of the foreign aid bill, adopted on
November 20th during a lame duck session of Congress, sets the
total military aid figures, including three quarters of a million
dollars in International Military Education and Training, for both
nations at $8.75 million. "It is absolutely critical that the U.S.
maintain parity in military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan,"
commented Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI).
"This is as important as ever, particularly in light of the ongoing
dangerous comments by Azeri leaders. I am fully committed to
ensuring that this policy continues."
The Congress - at the urging of Senator Mitch McConell (R-KY) and
Rep. Knollenberg, both of whom serve as senior members of their
respective chamber's foreign aid subcommittees - earmarked at least
$75 million in economic aid for Armenia and an additional $3
million for Nagorno Karabagh. Subcommittee member Steve Rothman
(D-NJ) welcomed the final numbers, stating "Armenia, as an emerging
democracy with a developing free market economic system, needs
continued U.S. assistance to accomplish its objectives: regional
peace and stability, a successful transition to a free market
economy and a flourishing democracy. I will continue to work with
the Administration to push Azerbaijan and Turkey to lift their
blockades against Armenia, which are placing oppressive and
unjustifiable obstacles in the path of Armenia's continued growth
and development."
"Armenian Americans value the foresight and vision of Congress in
restoring military aid parity, setting a $75 million earmark for
Armenia, and continuing direct aid to Nagorno Karabagh," said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "Senator McConnell, Congressman
Knollenberg and all our friends deserve a great deal of credit for
their tireless efforts on this spending measure. We were, at the
same time, disappointed that Congressional leaders failed to
respect the clearly expressed will of the U.S. House in adopting
the Schiff Amendment. In failing to include this provision in the
final version of the bill, the Congress missed an opportunity to
send a clear message to Turkey that the U.S. government will not
tolerate its shameful denial of the Armenian Genocide."
The restoration of military aid parity by the Congress was
identified by the ANCA in early 2004 as a major legislative
priority following the President's budget request breaking the
standing agreement between the White House and the legislative
branch that military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan remain
equal. Following the bill's passage Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank
Pallone (D-NJ) cited the importance of maintaining military aid
parity. "Even though the President waived Section 907 in FY 2002,
its principles and the commitments that were made at that time
still remain fundamental to U.S. policy towards the South Caucuses.
Moreover, because Azerbaijan continues its blockade of Armenia, it
is more important than ever for maintaining Foreign Military
Funding parity between these two nations."
The House version of the foreign aid bill, adopted this July,
included a strongly worded amendment, authored by Rep. Adam Schiff,
on the Armenian Genocide. This measure, approved as an amendment
by voice vote on the House floor, aimed to restrict the government
of Turkey from using any of the aid it receives from this
appropriation to lobby against the adoption of the Congressional
Genocide Resolution. The Senate version did not include a
counterpart to the Schiff Amendment, nor did the final text that
emerged from House-Senate deliberations. Rep. Schiff commented on
the removal of the provision from the final bill stating:
"Generations of Americans have long waited for Congress to condemn
the murder of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children. Even
though the Schiff amendment was not enacted into law, its passage
by the House in July was a seminal moment in the effort to
recognize the Armenian Genocide. While I had hoped that this would
be the year Congress would formally speak against the evil
perpetrated against the Armenian people almost ninety years ago, we
will redouble our efforts in the next year to pass the Schiff
Amendment as well as legislation recognizing and condemning all
genocides."
#####
From: Baghdasarian
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 23, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
CONGRESS FINALIZES FY2005 FOREIGN AID BILL
-- Reverses Administration's Effort to Break
Military Aid Parity for Armenia and Azerbaijan
-- Earmarks $75 Million in Economic, $8.75 Million
in Military Aid to Armenia; an Additional $3 Million
for Nagorno Karabagh
-- Fails to Include Schiff Amendment on the Armenian Genocide
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Congress this past weekend adopted an
Omnibus spending measure including several provisions of special
interest to Armenian Americans - including the reversal of a White
House proposal to tip the balance of U.S. military aid toward
Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
The Bush Administration, in the budget it submitted to Congress in
February of this year, had proposed sending four times more Foreign
Military Financing to Azerbaijan ($8 million) than to Armenia ($2
million). The final version of the foreign aid bill, adopted on
November 20th during a lame duck session of Congress, sets the
total military aid figures, including three quarters of a million
dollars in International Military Education and Training, for both
nations at $8.75 million. "It is absolutely critical that the U.S.
maintain parity in military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan,"
commented Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI).
"This is as important as ever, particularly in light of the ongoing
dangerous comments by Azeri leaders. I am fully committed to
ensuring that this policy continues."
The Congress - at the urging of Senator Mitch McConell (R-KY) and
Rep. Knollenberg, both of whom serve as senior members of their
respective chamber's foreign aid subcommittees - earmarked at least
$75 million in economic aid for Armenia and an additional $3
million for Nagorno Karabagh. Subcommittee member Steve Rothman
(D-NJ) welcomed the final numbers, stating "Armenia, as an emerging
democracy with a developing free market economic system, needs
continued U.S. assistance to accomplish its objectives: regional
peace and stability, a successful transition to a free market
economy and a flourishing democracy. I will continue to work with
the Administration to push Azerbaijan and Turkey to lift their
blockades against Armenia, which are placing oppressive and
unjustifiable obstacles in the path of Armenia's continued growth
and development."
"Armenian Americans value the foresight and vision of Congress in
restoring military aid parity, setting a $75 million earmark for
Armenia, and continuing direct aid to Nagorno Karabagh," said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "Senator McConnell, Congressman
Knollenberg and all our friends deserve a great deal of credit for
their tireless efforts on this spending measure. We were, at the
same time, disappointed that Congressional leaders failed to
respect the clearly expressed will of the U.S. House in adopting
the Schiff Amendment. In failing to include this provision in the
final version of the bill, the Congress missed an opportunity to
send a clear message to Turkey that the U.S. government will not
tolerate its shameful denial of the Armenian Genocide."
The restoration of military aid parity by the Congress was
identified by the ANCA in early 2004 as a major legislative
priority following the President's budget request breaking the
standing agreement between the White House and the legislative
branch that military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan remain
equal. Following the bill's passage Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank
Pallone (D-NJ) cited the importance of maintaining military aid
parity. "Even though the President waived Section 907 in FY 2002,
its principles and the commitments that were made at that time
still remain fundamental to U.S. policy towards the South Caucuses.
Moreover, because Azerbaijan continues its blockade of Armenia, it
is more important than ever for maintaining Foreign Military
Funding parity between these two nations."
The House version of the foreign aid bill, adopted this July,
included a strongly worded amendment, authored by Rep. Adam Schiff,
on the Armenian Genocide. This measure, approved as an amendment
by voice vote on the House floor, aimed to restrict the government
of Turkey from using any of the aid it receives from this
appropriation to lobby against the adoption of the Congressional
Genocide Resolution. The Senate version did not include a
counterpart to the Schiff Amendment, nor did the final text that
emerged from House-Senate deliberations. Rep. Schiff commented on
the removal of the provision from the final bill stating:
"Generations of Americans have long waited for Congress to condemn
the murder of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children. Even
though the Schiff amendment was not enacted into law, its passage
by the House in July was a seminal moment in the effort to
recognize the Armenian Genocide. While I had hoped that this would
be the year Congress would formally speak against the evil
perpetrated against the Armenian people almost ninety years ago, we
will redouble our efforts in the next year to pass the Schiff
Amendment as well as legislation recognizing and condemning all
genocides."
#####
From: Baghdasarian