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U.S. AIDS ARMENIA AT AMOUNT OF $40 MLN. BUT SPECIFIED NO FUNDING FOR ARTSAKH
PanARMENIAN.Net
July 28, 2011
PanARMENIAN.Net - Today, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on
State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs approved the Fiscal
Year (FY) 2012 State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, which
calls for $40 million in economic assistance to Armenia, reported
the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
The Subcommittee's Bill did not specify funding levels for Nagorno
Karabakh. However, Congress has routinely called for up to $10 million
in annual U.S. assistance.
While the Administration's budget request provided $3 million in
Foreign Military Financing (FMF) for Armenia and Azerbaijan, and
$450,000 more to Azerbaijan in International Military Education
Training (IMET), the Subcommittee's draft legislation did not
specifically delineate funding levels, but did call for military
parity for Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The Subcommittee's Bill also restated the six customary exemptions
for humanitarian and other assistance to Section 907 of the Freedom
Support Act. Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act was enacted in
1992 and requires the Government of Azerbaijan to take "demonstrable
steps to cease all blockades and other offensive uses of force"
against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
With passage by the Subcommittee, the Bill is scheduled to be
considered by the full House Appropriations Committee on August 3.
Earlier, Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) circulated a
letter urging his U.S. House colleagues to support expanded U.S. aid
to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, and a number of other pro-Armenia
provisions in the Fiscal Year 2012 foreign aid bill.
In his letter, Rep. Pallone, calls upon his fellow Representatives
to join with him in co-signing a Congressional letter asking
the bipartisan leadership of the Appropriations Subcommittee on
State Foreign Operations to support the inclusion of the following
provisions: At least $60 million in economic support funds for Armenia;
At least $10 million in development aid to Nagorno Karabakh; The
strengthening of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act and maintaining
military aid parity to Armenia and Azerbaijan; The removal of barriers
to U.S.-Nagorno Karabakh contacts and communications; Support for
the reinstatement of Nagorno Karabakh in the OSCE Minsk Group peace
process; At least $10 million in military aid to Armenia.
PanARMENIAN.Net
July 28, 2011
PanARMENIAN.Net - Today, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on
State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs approved the Fiscal
Year (FY) 2012 State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, which
calls for $40 million in economic assistance to Armenia, reported
the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
The Subcommittee's Bill did not specify funding levels for Nagorno
Karabakh. However, Congress has routinely called for up to $10 million
in annual U.S. assistance.
While the Administration's budget request provided $3 million in
Foreign Military Financing (FMF) for Armenia and Azerbaijan, and
$450,000 more to Azerbaijan in International Military Education
Training (IMET), the Subcommittee's draft legislation did not
specifically delineate funding levels, but did call for military
parity for Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The Subcommittee's Bill also restated the six customary exemptions
for humanitarian and other assistance to Section 907 of the Freedom
Support Act. Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act was enacted in
1992 and requires the Government of Azerbaijan to take "demonstrable
steps to cease all blockades and other offensive uses of force"
against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
With passage by the Subcommittee, the Bill is scheduled to be
considered by the full House Appropriations Committee on August 3.
Earlier, Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) circulated a
letter urging his U.S. House colleagues to support expanded U.S. aid
to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, and a number of other pro-Armenia
provisions in the Fiscal Year 2012 foreign aid bill.
In his letter, Rep. Pallone, calls upon his fellow Representatives
to join with him in co-signing a Congressional letter asking
the bipartisan leadership of the Appropriations Subcommittee on
State Foreign Operations to support the inclusion of the following
provisions: At least $60 million in economic support funds for Armenia;
At least $10 million in development aid to Nagorno Karabakh; The
strengthening of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act and maintaining
military aid parity to Armenia and Azerbaijan; The removal of barriers
to U.S.-Nagorno Karabakh contacts and communications; Support for
the reinstatement of Nagorno Karabakh in the OSCE Minsk Group peace
process; At least $10 million in military aid to Armenia.