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U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations recommends $40 million in
assistance for Armenia
July 30, 2010 - 20:30 AMT 15:30 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net -
Yesterday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the
Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill.
The Committee recommended $40 million in assistance for Armenia, which
is $1 million below last year's level of $41 million, and equal to the
Administration's request of $40 million, Armenian Assembly of America
(AAA) reported.
"In light of Turkey's ongoing blockade of Armenia, and its refusal to
normalize relations without preconditions, the importance of U.S.
assistance to Armenia cannot be understated," said Congressional
Relations Associate Bianka Kadian-Dodov.
The Senate Committee action comes after the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
adopted its version of the bill last month, which included $44 million
for Armenia and $10 million in assistance to Nagorno Karabakh.
"The Assembly will continue to work with both the Senate and House to
ensure the best possible outcome for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh,"
said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
The Senate Bill also called for "confidence-building measures and
other activities in furtherance of the peaceful resolution of
conflicts" for the "Southern Caucasus region." In addition, the Bill
provided $25.5 million "to support people to people reconciliation
programs, which bring together individuals of different ethnic,
religious and political backgrounds from areas of civil strife and
war."
The Committee also required a report regarding Section 907 of the
Freedom Support Act directing the "Secretary of State to submit a
report not later than 90 days after enactment of this act, analyzing
the effectiveness of the restrictions on assistance for the Government
of Azerbaijan as contained in section 907 of Public Law 102-511, and
the exceptions to such restrictions on assistance provided under this
heading, in furthering a resolution to the conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan. Such report shall also include specific
recommendations for increasing opportunities for reconciliation
between parties."
Funding for Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and International
Military Education Training (IMET) were not delineated for Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Given Azerbaijan's escalating military expenditures and
its continued war mongering, the Assembly in its congressional
testimony, "urged" appropriators "to cease military assistance to
Azerbaijan." The Committee's report also expressed concerns "with
repression of independent journalists in Azerbaijan" and directed the
Secretary of State to "seek improvements in freedom of expression in
connection with assistance for the central Government of Azerbaijan."
Further action on the Senate and House bills will continue in
September when Members of Congress return from the August recess.
From: A. Papazian
assistance for Armenia
July 30, 2010 - 20:30 AMT 15:30 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net -
Yesterday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the
Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill.
The Committee recommended $40 million in assistance for Armenia, which
is $1 million below last year's level of $41 million, and equal to the
Administration's request of $40 million, Armenian Assembly of America
(AAA) reported.
"In light of Turkey's ongoing blockade of Armenia, and its refusal to
normalize relations without preconditions, the importance of U.S.
assistance to Armenia cannot be understated," said Congressional
Relations Associate Bianka Kadian-Dodov.
The Senate Committee action comes after the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
adopted its version of the bill last month, which included $44 million
for Armenia and $10 million in assistance to Nagorno Karabakh.
"The Assembly will continue to work with both the Senate and House to
ensure the best possible outcome for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh,"
said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
The Senate Bill also called for "confidence-building measures and
other activities in furtherance of the peaceful resolution of
conflicts" for the "Southern Caucasus region." In addition, the Bill
provided $25.5 million "to support people to people reconciliation
programs, which bring together individuals of different ethnic,
religious and political backgrounds from areas of civil strife and
war."
The Committee also required a report regarding Section 907 of the
Freedom Support Act directing the "Secretary of State to submit a
report not later than 90 days after enactment of this act, analyzing
the effectiveness of the restrictions on assistance for the Government
of Azerbaijan as contained in section 907 of Public Law 102-511, and
the exceptions to such restrictions on assistance provided under this
heading, in furthering a resolution to the conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan. Such report shall also include specific
recommendations for increasing opportunities for reconciliation
between parties."
Funding for Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and International
Military Education Training (IMET) were not delineated for Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Given Azerbaijan's escalating military expenditures and
its continued war mongering, the Assembly in its congressional
testimony, "urged" appropriators "to cease military assistance to
Azerbaijan." The Committee's report also expressed concerns "with
repression of independent journalists in Azerbaijan" and directed the
Secretary of State to "seek improvements in freedom of expression in
connection with assistance for the central Government of Azerbaijan."
Further action on the Senate and House bills will continue in
September when Members of Congress return from the August recess.
From: A. Papazian