Tweet
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
September 24, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
FULL SENATE REVERSES ADMINISTRATION
EFFORT TO BREAK MILITARY PARITY AGREEMENT
-- Joins House in Restoring Parity in Military Aid
Allocations to Armenia and Azerbaijan
WASHINGTON, DC - Armenian Americans welcomed the adoption by the
Senate, late yesterday evening, of a $19.6 billion fiscal year 2005
foreign aid bill that earmarks at least $75 million in economic aid
for Armenia, provides another $8.75 million in military aid, a $2.5
million appropriation for Nagorno Karabagh, and reverses the
Administration's efforts to tip the balance of U.S. military aid
toward Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).
"We appreciate the leadership of Senator McConnell and the support
of all of our friends on the Foreign Operations Subcommittee in
constructively addressing the many provisions of the foreign aid
bill that hold special meaning for the Armenian American
community," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "In
particular, we welcome the Senate's reversal of the ill-advised
effort to break the military aid parity agreement, as well as its
decision to increase the aid level for Armenia beyond the figure in
both the Administration's and the House's version of the bill. At
the same time, we regret that the Senate, in failing to include
language similar to the Schiff Amendment, 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 Senate follows
similar action taken by the House earlier this year. In February
of 2005, the Administration's budget proposal recommended breaking
the agreement struck between the White House and Congress in late
2001 during discussions over Section 907, to keep military aid to
Armenia and Azerbaijan at equal levels. The White House proposal
would have allocated roughly four times more Foreign Military
Financing (FMF) assistance to Azerbaijan ($8 million) than Armenia
($2 million). The House version of the foreign aid bill set the
FMF figures at $5 million for each country. The Senate bill
adopted last night sets the FMF level for both countries at $8
million, with an additional $750,000 to each country for
International Military Education and Training (IMET).
The Senate version of the foreign aid bill did not include Schiff
Amendment language. This provision, adopted unanimously by voice
vote in the U.S. House this July, restricts 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 FY 2005 Foreign Operations bill, which was adopted by voice
vote, was $210 million above the House version, and $1.7 billion
below the Administration request. The bill includes $150 million
in emergency funds for Global HIV AIDS and $75 million in emergency
funds for peacekeeping in Sudan. The $75 million hard earmark for
Armenia is $10 million more than the figure approved by the House
and $13 million over the Administration's $62 million budget
request. By contrast, foreign aid levels to neighboring Caucus
countries include $38 million to Azerbaijan and $100 million for
Georgia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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
September 24, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
FULL SENATE REVERSES ADMINISTRATION
EFFORT TO BREAK MILITARY PARITY AGREEMENT
-- Joins House in Restoring Parity in Military Aid
Allocations to Armenia and Azerbaijan
WASHINGTON, DC - Armenian Americans welcomed the adoption by the
Senate, late yesterday evening, of a $19.6 billion fiscal year 2005
foreign aid bill that earmarks at least $75 million in economic aid
for Armenia, provides another $8.75 million in military aid, a $2.5
million appropriation for Nagorno Karabagh, and reverses the
Administration's efforts to tip the balance of U.S. military aid
toward Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).
"We appreciate the leadership of Senator McConnell and the support
of all of our friends on the Foreign Operations Subcommittee in
constructively addressing the many provisions of the foreign aid
bill that hold special meaning for the Armenian American
community," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "In
particular, we welcome the Senate's reversal of the ill-advised
effort to break the military aid parity agreement, as well as its
decision to increase the aid level for Armenia beyond the figure in
both the Administration's and the House's version of the bill. At
the same time, we regret that the Senate, in failing to include
language similar to the Schiff Amendment, 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 Senate follows
similar action taken by the House earlier this year. In February
of 2005, the Administration's budget proposal recommended breaking
the agreement struck between the White House and Congress in late
2001 during discussions over Section 907, to keep military aid to
Armenia and Azerbaijan at equal levels. The White House proposal
would have allocated roughly four times more Foreign Military
Financing (FMF) assistance to Azerbaijan ($8 million) than Armenia
($2 million). The House version of the foreign aid bill set the
FMF figures at $5 million for each country. The Senate bill
adopted last night sets the FMF level for both countries at $8
million, with an additional $750,000 to each country for
International Military Education and Training (IMET).
The Senate version of the foreign aid bill did not include Schiff
Amendment language. This provision, adopted unanimously by voice
vote in the U.S. House this July, restricts 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 FY 2005 Foreign Operations bill, which was adopted by voice
vote, was $210 million above the House version, and $1.7 billion
below the Administration request. The bill includes $150 million
in emergency funds for Global HIV AIDS and $75 million in emergency
funds for peacekeeping in Sudan. The $75 million hard earmark for
Armenia is $10 million more than the figure approved by the House
and $13 million over the Administration's $62 million budget
request. By contrast, foreign aid levels to neighboring Caucus
countries include $38 million to Azerbaijan and $100 million for
Georgia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress