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CONGRESS APPROVES $ 40 MILLION FOR ARMENIA; MAINTAINS KARABAKH AID; KEEPS MILITARY ASSISTANCE PARITY IN FY2012 FOREIGN AID BILL
noyan tapan
2011-12-21 11:00:23
WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate and House finalized the Fiscal Year 2012
(FY12) U.S. foreign assistance package this past weekend, approving $
40 million in U.S. assistance to Armenia, maintaining current funding
levels for Nagorno Karabakh, and calling for military assistance
parity for Armenia and Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
"Armenian Americans want to thank all our friends among the memberships
of the appropriating committees on both the House and Senate sides
for enforcing military aid parity and for holding the line on aid to
Armenia and Artsakh in the face of across the board cuts in America's
foreign aid spending," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the
ANCA. "We will, in the coming months, work to materially help families
in the homeland, through increased aid to Armenia and a clear mandate
for an expanded developmental aid program for Karabakh in the FY13
foreign aid bill, as well as, the granting of a second Millennium
Challenge package to Armenia, and the negotiation of bilateral
U.S.-Armenia economic accords to expand trade and foster job-creation."
In terms of U.S. aid to the Caucasus, Congress approved President
Obama's proposed economic assistance levels, including $ 40 million
for Armenia, $ 16.6 million for Azerbaijan, and $ 66 million for
Georgia. In a report accompanying the foreign aid bill, Senate and
House conferees made specific mention that there should be parity
in both Foreign Military Finance (FMF) and International Military
Education and Training (IMET) levels to Armenia and Azerbaijan. While
President Obama had requested $ 3 million in FMF funding for each
country, the IMET funds he had proposed for Azerbaijan ($ 900,000)
were twice that for Armenia.
Congress also agreed to provide assistance for Nagorno Karabakh "at
levels consistent with prior years, and for ongoing needs related to
the conflict," while urging a "peaceful resolution of the conflict."
U.S. assistance spending levels to Karabakh have been approximately $
2 million a year, despite higher Congressional recommendations.
ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian had outlined key
community foreign aid priorities in testimony submitted to the House
Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations earlier this year.
The full text of her testimony is available at:
http://www.anca.org/assets/pdf/testimony/2011.pdf
The foreign assistance package was part of an "omnibus" bill which set
funding levels for nine critical areas including Defense, Energy and
Water, Financial Services, Homeland Security, Interior/Environment,
Labor/Health and Human Services/Education, the Legislative Branch,
Military Construction/Veterans Affairs, and State/Foreign Operations.
Congress will begin consideration of the FY13 foreign aid levels as
early as March of 2013.
noyan tapan
2011-12-21 11:00:23
WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate and House finalized the Fiscal Year 2012
(FY12) U.S. foreign assistance package this past weekend, approving $
40 million in U.S. assistance to Armenia, maintaining current funding
levels for Nagorno Karabakh, and calling for military assistance
parity for Armenia and Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
"Armenian Americans want to thank all our friends among the memberships
of the appropriating committees on both the House and Senate sides
for enforcing military aid parity and for holding the line on aid to
Armenia and Artsakh in the face of across the board cuts in America's
foreign aid spending," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the
ANCA. "We will, in the coming months, work to materially help families
in the homeland, through increased aid to Armenia and a clear mandate
for an expanded developmental aid program for Karabakh in the FY13
foreign aid bill, as well as, the granting of a second Millennium
Challenge package to Armenia, and the negotiation of bilateral
U.S.-Armenia economic accords to expand trade and foster job-creation."
In terms of U.S. aid to the Caucasus, Congress approved President
Obama's proposed economic assistance levels, including $ 40 million
for Armenia, $ 16.6 million for Azerbaijan, and $ 66 million for
Georgia. In a report accompanying the foreign aid bill, Senate and
House conferees made specific mention that there should be parity
in both Foreign Military Finance (FMF) and International Military
Education and Training (IMET) levels to Armenia and Azerbaijan. While
President Obama had requested $ 3 million in FMF funding for each
country, the IMET funds he had proposed for Azerbaijan ($ 900,000)
were twice that for Armenia.
Congress also agreed to provide assistance for Nagorno Karabakh "at
levels consistent with prior years, and for ongoing needs related to
the conflict," while urging a "peaceful resolution of the conflict."
U.S. assistance spending levels to Karabakh have been approximately $
2 million a year, despite higher Congressional recommendations.
ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian had outlined key
community foreign aid priorities in testimony submitted to the House
Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations earlier this year.
The full text of her testimony is available at:
http://www.anca.org/assets/pdf/testimony/2011.pdf
The foreign assistance package was part of an "omnibus" bill which set
funding levels for nine critical areas including Defense, Energy and
Water, Financial Services, Homeland Security, Interior/Environment,
Labor/Health and Human Services/Education, the Legislative Branch,
Military Construction/Veterans Affairs, and State/Foreign Operations.
Congress will begin consideration of the FY13 foreign aid levels as
early as March of 2013.