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PALLONE CONCERNED ABOUT LACK OF KARABAKH ASSISTANCE
Frank Pallone
asbarez
August 1st, 2011
WASHINGTON-Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) Monday wrote
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers and Kay
Granger, Chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State,
Foreign Operations, and Related Programs to express his concerns
of reports that the Subcommittee has broken precedent by failing
to provide funding for humanitarian and development assistance in
Nagorno Karabakh. In past years, funding for Nagorno Karabakh had
broad bi-partisan support. Pallone expressed concerns about the
repercussions this lack of funding would have in the region.
"Since 1998 USAID and other agencies have been providing funds for
humanitarian and other assistance programs in Nagorno Karabakh as a
result of the Appropriations Committee's work. The decision to provide
no funds to Nagorno Karabakh in Fiscal Year 2012 is a break with the
practice of the Appropriations Committee, under both Democratic and
Republican control," Pallone wrote in the letter.
The full text of the letter appears below.
August 1, 2011
Dear Chairman Rogers and Chairwoman Granger:
I am writing with concern over recent reports that the State, Foreign
Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee has reported out a bill
that does not include funds for the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. I am
asking that as this bill moves to the full Appropriations Committee
that language be included to provide for humanitarian and development
assistance in Nagorno Karabakh.
Since 1998 USAID and other agencies have been providing funds for
humanitarian and other assistance programs in Nagorno Karabakh as a
result of the Appropriations Committee's work. The decision to provide
no funds to Nagorno Karabakh in Fiscal Year 2012 is a break with the
practice of the Appropriations Committee, under both Democratic and
Republican control.
On May 20, 2011 twenty-eight members of Congress, along with myself,
on a bi-partisan basis wrote to Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member
Lowey requesting that $10 million be included for humanitarian and
development programs in Nagorno Karabakh. We pointed out that while
there has been strong Congressional support for providing funds to
Nagnorno Karabakh, the State Department has failed to come close to
expending the funds intended to reach the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
This has left major gaps in our ability to provide humanitarian
assistance and has put at risk the protection of the Nagorno Karabakh
people who live under constant threat of attack from Azerbaijan.
There is no question that Nagorno Karabakh is an example of how
democracy can be born from conflict and progress into a popularly
supported government. The United States' role in helping to facilitate
this process cannot be overstated. I believe that it is more important
than ever that the United States maintain a principled stand for
peace in this region and support Nagorno Karabakh.
Sincerely, FRANK PALLONE, JR.
Member of Congress
Frank Pallone
asbarez
August 1st, 2011
WASHINGTON-Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) Monday wrote
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers and Kay
Granger, Chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State,
Foreign Operations, and Related Programs to express his concerns
of reports that the Subcommittee has broken precedent by failing
to provide funding for humanitarian and development assistance in
Nagorno Karabakh. In past years, funding for Nagorno Karabakh had
broad bi-partisan support. Pallone expressed concerns about the
repercussions this lack of funding would have in the region.
"Since 1998 USAID and other agencies have been providing funds for
humanitarian and other assistance programs in Nagorno Karabakh as a
result of the Appropriations Committee's work. The decision to provide
no funds to Nagorno Karabakh in Fiscal Year 2012 is a break with the
practice of the Appropriations Committee, under both Democratic and
Republican control," Pallone wrote in the letter.
The full text of the letter appears below.
August 1, 2011
Dear Chairman Rogers and Chairwoman Granger:
I am writing with concern over recent reports that the State, Foreign
Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee has reported out a bill
that does not include funds for the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. I am
asking that as this bill moves to the full Appropriations Committee
that language be included to provide for humanitarian and development
assistance in Nagorno Karabakh.
Since 1998 USAID and other agencies have been providing funds for
humanitarian and other assistance programs in Nagorno Karabakh as a
result of the Appropriations Committee's work. The decision to provide
no funds to Nagorno Karabakh in Fiscal Year 2012 is a break with the
practice of the Appropriations Committee, under both Democratic and
Republican control.
On May 20, 2011 twenty-eight members of Congress, along with myself,
on a bi-partisan basis wrote to Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member
Lowey requesting that $10 million be included for humanitarian and
development programs in Nagorno Karabakh. We pointed out that while
there has been strong Congressional support for providing funds to
Nagnorno Karabakh, the State Department has failed to come close to
expending the funds intended to reach the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
This has left major gaps in our ability to provide humanitarian
assistance and has put at risk the protection of the Nagorno Karabakh
people who live under constant threat of attack from Azerbaijan.
There is no question that Nagorno Karabakh is an example of how
democracy can be born from conflict and progress into a popularly
supported government. The United States' role in helping to facilitate
this process cannot be overstated. I believe that it is more important
than ever that the United States maintain a principled stand for
peace in this region and support Nagorno Karabakh.
Sincerely, FRANK PALLONE, JR.
Member of Congress