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U.S. Administration Proposes $24 Million Aid For Armenia In FY 2008

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  • U.S. Administration Proposes $24 Million Aid For Armenia In FY 2008

    U.S. ADMINISTRATION PROPOSES $24 MILLION AID FOR ARMENIA IN FY 2008

    PanARMENIAN.Net
    05.02.2008 18:41 GMT+04:00

    /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Given Armenia's support in the global war against
    terrorism as well as the ongoing attempts by Turkey and Azerbaijan
    to isolate Armenia, the Armenian Assembly of America today expressed
    its opposition to the Administration's Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Budget.

    As in years past, the Budget proposal calls for asymmetrical military
    assistance to Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Administration's spending
    plan recommends $3 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to
    both countries, but Azerbaijan is slated to receive $600,000 more
    than Armenia ($300,000) in Military Education and Training (IMET)
    assistance.

    Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev recently proclaimed that "Armenia
    did not win the war. The war is not over. Only the first stage of the
    war has been completed." He added that Nagorno Karabakh will never
    be independent.

    "Given Azerbaijan's increased war rhetoric, I have strong concerns
    with giving any military aid to Azerbaijan, and we definitely should
    not give them more than we're providing Armenia," stated Armenian
    Caucus Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI).

    "I will work with my colleagues to ensure that Armenia has the
    resources needed to continue to strengthen its democracy as well as
    ensure its security," continued Knollenberg.

    The FY 2009 Budget also calls for $24 million in economic assistance
    to Armenia, the lowest request to date made by the Administration. The
    figure represents $34 million less than what Congress approved last
    year, and $11 million less than the Administration's request in
    FY 2008.

    Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny echoed Congressman
    Knollenberg's concerns, stating: "President Bush missed an important
    opportunity to demonstrate that his Administration is serious about a
    policy of regional cooperation and economic integration in the region."

    "Azerbaijan's continued threats to resume war, undermines
    U.S. objectives in the region and I am confident that Congress will
    reject this approach," Ardouny added. "In a budget that calls for
    over $39 billion in the International Affairs account, $24 million
    for Armenia is woefully inadequate. Rather than reduce funding to
    Armenia, we urge the Administration to work with Congress to end the
    dual blockades imposed upon her by Turkey and Azerbaijan."

    The announcement is the first step in a lengthy budget process. The
    next step is for the House and Senate to review the Administration's
    request through committee hearings.
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