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USAID NOMINEE FAILS TO EXPLAIN $25 MILLION SHORTFALL IN AID TO NAGORNO KARABAKH
armradio.am
03.12.2010 11:32
Written responses by a senior United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) nominee to a series of questions posed by Senator
Robert Menendez (D-NJ) offer insight into the details of U.S.
assistance programs in Nagorno Karabakh, but fail to explain the
roughly $25 million shortfall between the level of aid intended
by Congress and the amount that has actually been spent since this
program was launched some 12-year ago, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
The written answers were offered by Paige Eve Alexander, the White
House's nominee to serve as the Assistant Administrator of USAID,
as a follow up to her November 17, 2010 appearance before the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee. During the November hearing, Alexander,
avoided directly responding to the Senator's inquiries about whey
only $35 million of the $60 million Congress intended for Nagorno
Karabakh had been expended, choosing instead to commit, in general
terms, to working to make sure that the "assistance goes to where it
was intended Congressionally."
Senator Menendez followed up, in writing, with even more specific
inquiries, including the following question addressing the most recent
instances of underfunding : "Starting in FY 2009, Congress allocated
up to $8 million for Nagorno Karabakh, but the State Department
continued to only allocate $2 million for each of these years. Please
explain why USAID has not allocated the full amounts appropriated
for assistance projects for Nagorno-Karabakh." Alexander responded,
in writing, that: "If confirmed, I look forward to working closely
with you on this important issue. I understand from briefings that
USAID assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh has remained constant since
2001 despite a sharp decline in the regional budget and a number
of competing priorities. USAID is the only U.S. Government agency
carrying out development projects in Nagorno-Karabakh. Funding provided
by the American people has improved shelters, health facilities,
schools, community centers, water systems, and loan access for
microenterprises. The current identified priorities are completing the
demining of Nagorno-Karabakh and providing access to potable water."
From: A. Papazian
armradio.am
03.12.2010 11:32
Written responses by a senior United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) nominee to a series of questions posed by Senator
Robert Menendez (D-NJ) offer insight into the details of U.S.
assistance programs in Nagorno Karabakh, but fail to explain the
roughly $25 million shortfall between the level of aid intended
by Congress and the amount that has actually been spent since this
program was launched some 12-year ago, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
The written answers were offered by Paige Eve Alexander, the White
House's nominee to serve as the Assistant Administrator of USAID,
as a follow up to her November 17, 2010 appearance before the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee. During the November hearing, Alexander,
avoided directly responding to the Senator's inquiries about whey
only $35 million of the $60 million Congress intended for Nagorno
Karabakh had been expended, choosing instead to commit, in general
terms, to working to make sure that the "assistance goes to where it
was intended Congressionally."
Senator Menendez followed up, in writing, with even more specific
inquiries, including the following question addressing the most recent
instances of underfunding : "Starting in FY 2009, Congress allocated
up to $8 million for Nagorno Karabakh, but the State Department
continued to only allocate $2 million for each of these years. Please
explain why USAID has not allocated the full amounts appropriated
for assistance projects for Nagorno-Karabakh." Alexander responded,
in writing, that: "If confirmed, I look forward to working closely
with you on this important issue. I understand from briefings that
USAID assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh has remained constant since
2001 despite a sharp decline in the regional budget and a number
of competing priorities. USAID is the only U.S. Government agency
carrying out development projects in Nagorno-Karabakh. Funding provided
by the American people has improved shelters, health facilities,
schools, community centers, water systems, and loan access for
microenterprises. The current identified priorities are completing the
demining of Nagorno-Karabakh and providing access to potable water."
From: A. Papazian